Synthesis and Characterization of a Terpyridine Ligand and Its Interactions with Selected Metal Ions

In this work, a terpyridine ligand L, (4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine), was synthesized and fully characterized. Interactions of the ligand with selected metal ions like Cu(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Fe(II), Cr(III), Cd(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) were investigated. Compared to ligand L, only Fe(II) and Pb(II) ions show new band in electronic absorption spectroscopy. Fluorescent spectroscopy indicates that Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions enhance the emission intensity of ligand L, and other selected ions quench emission intensity. To explore how Fe(II) ion interacts with ligand L, Fe(L)-based complex 1 was synthesized, spectroscopic studies and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This implies ligand L has an excellent selectivity for Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions.