Ion-pair extraction behavior of divalent metal cations using neutral di-Schiff base ligands derived from 1,2-cyclohexanediamine and o-phenylenediamine

Di-Schiff base ligand, N,Nʹ-bis(2-pyridylmethylidene)-trans-1,2-diiminocyclohexane (trans-BPIC), having sufficient hydrophobicity acts as neutral bidentate ligand in ion-pair extraction of divalent metal cations into nitrobenzene with picrate anion. In present study, the effect of steric restriction by chemical structure around imine-N donor atoms in trans-BPIC analogs on their complexation with divalent metal cations in ion-pair extraction was investigated by using N,Nʹ-bis(2-pyridylmethylidene)-cis-1,2-diiminocyclohexane (cis-BPIC) and N,Nʹ-bis(2-pyridylmethylidene)-o-diiminobenezene (BPIB). The former was used to observe the effect by geometrical restriction and the latter was by conjugate restriction. In BPIB–NaPic system, the higher extractability was obtained than those in cis- and trans-BPIC systems, and this result seems to be led by the increase of steric distortion originated from conformational restriction. Namely, it is considered that the extractability can be controlled by steric restriction on the complexation.