Formation and spectral characterization of Cu(II)-poly(L-ornithine) complexes

Cu(II)-Poly-(1-ornithine) complexes in aqueous solution have been studied using potentiometric titration and absorption and circular dichroism spectra. As in the case of Cu(II)-poly(L-arginine) complexes studied previously, two types of compounds have been detected, labeled complexes I and II. Complex I contains two amine nitrogens and two water molecules coordinated to the copper. Complex II, two amine and two amide nitrogens. Amide nitrogen coordination confers optical activity to the copper d-d transitions. Furthermore, amine and amide nitrogen coordination to the copper are characterized by charge transfer transitions at 250 and 320 nm respectively which were already identified in Cu(II)-poly(L-arginine) systems.