Amino acids binding to Zn 2+-cyclen molecular receptor in aqueous solution

Potentiometric titrations and (1) H NMR spectroscopic studies of amino acids binding to the [ZnL](2+) -complex where L=cyclen in aqueous solution provide information concerning complexing species identity, their stability, and coordination mode declaration. The amino acids form stable ternary [ZnL(HL(n))](2+) and [ZnL(L(n))](+) complexes. The observations indicate bidentate coordination mode of the deprotonated amino acids, involving both the amine and the carboxylate functions to the [ZnL](2+) complex in pH region of about 7.5-9.5. The determined stability constants indicate that [ZnL](2+) complex is a very efficient receptor for simple amino acids such as glycine and alanine.