Biologically active pyridine mono- and bis-phosphonates: efficient ligands for co-ordination of Cu2+ ions

Abstract

Potentiometric and spectroscopic studies on the co-ordination ability of biologically important pyridine mono- and bis-phosphonates have shown that when sterically possible these compounds undergo tridentate co-ordination with Cu ²⁺ ions. The complexes obtained are very stable. When the position of the nitrogen donor is sterically unfavourable the major binding occurs at the bis(phosphonate) site.