THE EFFECTS OF SIZE AND DONOR ATOMS OF MACROCYCLIC POLYAMINES BINDING TO Mg2+ AND Ca2+

Abstract
New macrocyclic polyamines L2–L5 have been synthesized to develop sequestering agents selective for Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in aqueous solutions. 18-membered hexadentate ligands L2 and L3 show specificity toward Ca2+, whereas a 16-membered pentaamine with an amine branch (L4) bind only to Mg2+.