Complexation of Metal Ions with TRAP (1,4,7-Triazacyclononane Phosphinic Acid) Ligands and 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic Acid: Phosphinate-Containing Ligands as Unique Chelators for Trivalent Gallium
Abstract
Three phosphinic acid 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (TACN) derivatives bearing methylphosphinic (TRAP-H), methyl(phenyl)phosphinic (TRAP-Ph), or methyl-(hydroxymethyl)phosphinic acid (TRAP-OH) pendant arms were investigated as members of a new family of efficient Ga(3+) chelators, TRAP ligands (triazacyclononane phosphinic acids). Stepwise protonation constants of ligands and stability constants of their complexes with Ga(3+), selected divalent metal, and Ln(3+) ions were determined by potentiometry.
These ligands exhibit high thermodynamic selectivity for Ga(3+) over the other metal ions and a selective complexation of smaller Mg(2+) over Ca(2+). Stabilities of the Ga(3+) complexes are dependent on the basicity of the donor atoms: [Ga(NOTA)] (log K(GaL) = 29.6) > [Ga(TRAP-OH)] (log K(GaL) = 23.3) > [Ga(TRAP-H)] (log K(GaL) = 21.9).
The [Ga(TRAP-OH)] complex exhibits unusual reversible rearrangement of the "in-cage" N3O3 complex to the "out-of-cage" O(6) complex. The in-cage complex is present in acidic solutions, and at neutral pH, Ga(3+) ion binds hydroxide anion, induces deprotonation and coordination of the P-hydroxymethyl group(s), and moves out of the macrocyclic cavity; the hypothesis is supported by a combination of results from potentiometry, multinuclear nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and density functional theory calculations.
Isomerism of the phosphinate Ga(3+) complexes caused by a combination of the chelate ring conformation, the helicity of coordinated pendant arms, and the chirality of the coordinated phosphinate groups was observed. All Ga(3+) complexes are kinetically inert in both acidic and alkaline solutions.
Complex formation studies in acidic solutions indicate that Ga(3+) complexes of the phosphinate ligands are formed quickly (minutes) and quantitatively even at pH < 2. Compared to common Ga(3+) chelators (e.g., 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) derivatives), these novel ligands show fast complexation of Ga(3+) over a broad pH range.