Pyridine- and phosphonate-containing ligands for stable Ln complexation. Extremely fast water exchange on the Gd(III) chelates.

Two novel ligands containing pyridine units and phosphonate pendant arms, with ethane-1,2-diamine (L2) or cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (L3) backbones, have been synthesized for Ln complexation. The hydration numbers obtained from luminescence lifetime measurements in aqueous solutions of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes are q = 0.6 (EuL2), 0.7 (TbL2), 0.8 (EuL3), and 0.4 (TbL3). To further assess the hydration equilibrium, we have performed a variable-temperature and -pressure UV-vis spectrophotometric study on the Eu(III) complexes. The reaction enthalpy, entropy, and volume for the hydration equilibrium EuL <--> EuL(H2O) were calculated to be DeltaH degrees = -(11.6 +/- 2) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS degrees = -(34.2 +/- 5) J mol(-1) K(-1), and = 1.8 +/- 0.3 for EuL2 and DeltaH degrees = -(13.5 +/- 1) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS degrees = -(41 +/- 4) J mol(-1) K(-1), and = 1.7 +/- 0.3 for EuL3, respectively. We have carried out variable-temperature 17O NMR and nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) measurements on the GdL2(H2O)q and GdL3(H2O)q systems. Given the presence of phosphonate groups in the ligand backbone, a second-sphere relaxation mechanism has been included for the analysis of the longitudinal (17)O and (1)H NMR relaxation rates. The water exchange rate on GdL2(H2O)q, = (7.0 +/- 0.8) x 10(8) s(-1), is extremely high and comparable to that on the Gd(III) aqua ion, while it is slightly reduced for GdL3(H2O)q, = (1.5 +/- 0.1) x 10(8) s(-1). This fast exchange can be rationalized in terms of a very flexible inner coordination sphere, which is slightly rigidified for L3 by the introduction of the cyclohexyl group on the amine backbone. The water exchange proceeds via a dissociative interchange mechanism, evidenced by the positive activation volumes obtained from variable-pressure 17O NMR for both GdL2(H2O)q and GdL3(H2O)q (DeltaV = +8.3 +/- 1.0 and 8.7 +/- 1.0 cm(3) mol(-1), respectively).