Polymeric Zinc Ferrocenyl Sulfonate as a Molecular Aspirator for the Removal of Toxic Metal Ions

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 14; no. 6; pp. 1814 - 1821
• Main Authors: Mi, Liwei, Hou, Hongwei, Song, Zhiyong, Han, Huayun, Fan, Yaoting
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 18-02-2008; WILEY‐VCH Verlag
• Subjects: chemoselectivity; coordination polymers; drug design; ion exchange; single-crystal-to- single-crystal transformations
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.200700782

A porous bilayered open coordination polymer [Zn(4,4′‐bpy)2(FcphSO3)2]n (1; FcphSO3Na=m‐ferrocenyl benzenesulfonate), has been assembled from Zn(NO3)2, m‐ferrocenyl benzenesulfonate, and the bridging ligand 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bpy). Ion‐exchange induced products [Cd0.6Zn0.4(4,4′‐bpy)2(FcphSO3)2]n (2), [Zn0.75Pb0.25(4,4′‐bpy)2(FcphSO3)2]n (3), and [Cu0.5Zn0.5(4,4′‐bpy)2(FcphSO3)2]n (4) could be obtained directly by suspending a big single crystal of 1 into concentrated solutions of Cd(NO3)2, Pb(NO3)2, and Cu(NO3)2, respectively. Most importantly, the big single crystal of 1 could be partly regenerated after immersion into concentrated aqueous solutions of Zn(NO3)2. On the other hand, powdered 1 could also be used as a metal ion adsorbent because of the well‐defined pore size and pore shape. Ion exchange takes place along with the process of ion sorption. The big single crystal of 1 removes harmful metal ions by means of ion exchange, whereas powdered 1 removes toxic metal ions mainly through ion sorption. Also, compound 1 could be employed as a multi‐ion analysis fluorescent probe to detect dangerous metal ions, such as Pb2+, Cd2+, Ag+, and Cu2+. The compounds described in this study may have potential applications in the design of new molecular devices.
Ion‐exchange induced products could be obtained directly by suspending a polymeric zinc ferrocenyl complex in concentrated solutions of Cd(NO3)2, Pb(NO3)2, and Cu(NO3)2 (see Pb complex in picture). These compounds could also be potential candidates for clinical medicines because they not only adsorb large amounts of dangerous metal ions, but also keep the concentration of sanative metal ions in bodies by ion exchange and sorption.