Stability constants of copper(II) complexes of optically active α-amino-acids

Abstract

From detailed consideration of equilibria in solution it is shown that no stereoselectivity has occurred in the formation of bis-α-amino-acid complexes of copper(II) where the formation curve (plot of against p[A] where A = ligand) for the racemic mixture exactly coincides with that for an optically pure enantiomorph. The conclusions are applicable generally to bis-chelates of all bivalent metals with bidentate asymmetric ligands and the distribution of isomers is shown to be that expected statistically with [M(/A)₂]: [M(dA)₂]: [M(/A)(dA)]= 1 : 1 : 2, where d and l denote (+) and (–).