Molecular Design of Highly Selective Ligands for Group 13 Metals

Abstract

Highly selective ligands for group 13 metal ions (Al³⁺, Ga³⁺ and In³⁺) have been successfully designed taking into consideration the bite size (O-O distance in the chelate ring) and the interligand contact in the complex. The complexation of Al³⁺ was found to be under the effect of the interligand contact and that of In³⁺ the bite size. The appropriate substituents were introduced to ß-diketone type ligands to control the bite size and the volume of the ligand.