We have exploited ligand-ligand hydrogen bonding in the outer coordination spheres of metal ions to tune the strength and selectivity of extractants for transition metal cations,[1] metal salts[2] or metallate anions.[3] Hydrogen bond-buttressing involving a substituent ortho to the phenol group in commercial salicylaldoxime copper extractants and the oximic OH group (see below) can enhance copper distribution coefficients by two orders or magnitude[1]. In this paper we have extended this approach to structurally related salicylhydrazones and have used a combination of X-ray structure determination and DFT calculations to interpret the effects of the buttressing groups and to compare the strength with oxime analogues. 

Using metal outer coordination spheres to tune the strength and selectivity of extractants

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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