3,3,3-Trifluoro-N′-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1,2-propanediamine and its N-mono-and N,N-dicarboxyethyl derivatives: synthesis, protolytic and complexation properties

3,3,3-Trifluoro-N′-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1,2-propanediamine (5) was synthesized by the reaction of 2-diazo-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-nitropropane or 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-nitropropene with 3-aminobenzotrifluoride followed by the reduction of the nitro group. The Michael 1,4-addition of diamine 5 to acrylic acid occurs only at the N(1) atom and affords N-mono-or N,N-dicarboxyethyl derivatives 6 and 7, depending on the reactant ratio. Protolytic equilibria 5–7 in aqueous solutions were studied by pH-potentiometry and UV spectroscopy. Only the aliphatic amino group can be protonated in an aqueous solution, while the aromatic amino group remains unprotonated even in 12 M HCl. The stability constants of transition metal (Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+) complexes with ligands 5–7 were determined by pH-potentiometric titration. The stability of the complexes and selectivity of the ligands toward Cu2+ ions increase with an increase in the number of N-carboxyethyl groups.