Equilibrium and kinetic studies on the formation of the lanthanide(III) complexes, [Ce(dota)]− and [Yb(dota)]− (H4dota = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid)

The protonation constants (K iH) of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (H4dota) were redetermined at 25 °C in 0.1 M NMe4Cl. The log Ki H values (i = 1–5) are 12.6, 9.70, 4.50, 4.14 and 2.32, respectively. The stability constants of [Ce(dota)]– and [Yb(dota)]– were determined by pH-potentiometry as log KCeL = 24.6 and log KYbL = 26.4. The formation rates of [Ce(dota)]– and [Yb(dota)]– were studied by the stopped-flow method at much higher pH values than before. In the range pH 3.5–9.3 the spectra were interpreted in terms of the formation of diprotonated, [Ce(H2dota)]+, and (at around pH > 8) monoprotonated, [Ce(Hdota)], intermediates. These two species are characterized by the same spectra (and structure). At pH < 7.5 the formation rates of the complexes were directly proportional to the OH– concentration. The rate constants, kOH, characterizing the formation of [Ce(dota)]– and [Yb(dota)]– are 2.7 × 105 and 9.3 × 107M–1 s–1, respectively. However, at pH > 7.5 the order of reaction in [OH–] is higher than one. The results were interpreted in terms of rate-controlling deprotonation of the monoprotonated intermediate [Ln(Hdota)] followed by rearrangement of the deprotonated intermediate into the product. The deprotonation is a general base-catalysed process, which occurs with the assistance of a H2O molecule at pH < 7.5. At higher pH values the OH–-assisted deprotonation of the intermediate, as another pathway, increases the formation rate of the complexes. By assuming these reaction pathways a general rate expression was deduced and it was shown that kOH = kHLnHL/K HLnHLKw, where K HLnHL is the protonation constant of the monoprotonated intermediates [Ce(Hdota)] and [Yb(Hdota)], K HCeHL = 4.4 × 108, K HYbHL = 2.5 × 108 and kLnHL is the rate constant, characterizing the H2O-assisted deprotonation of the intermediates, kCeHL = 18.5 and kYbHL = 245 s–1. At pH > 8 the OH–-assisted deprotonation of the monoprotonated intermediate needs to be considered in the formation rates of [Ce(dota)]–; the rate constant for this pathway is kOHCeHL = 1.9 × 107M–1 s–1.