Equilibria between ionophore A23187 and divalent cations: stability of 1:1 complexes in solutions of 80% methanol/water

The cation complexation equilibria between ionophore A23187 and several alkaline earth and first transition series divalent cations have been investigated. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to monitor the reactions which were studied in solutions of 80% methanol/water, at 25 degrees C, and under conditions of controlled ionic strength and pH. Titration of the ionophore with divalent cations results first in formation of the dimeric species MA2 and subsequently in the formation of MA+ by disproportionation of the first product. With Zn2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ (above pH approximately 6), a third species is detected which is postulated to be MA.OH. The existence of this species with Mn2+ and alkaline earth cations is uncertain. For formation of MA2, the second stepwise stability constant is similar to or exceeds the first value with all cations studied. However, it is possible to isolate the first reaction and determine accurate stability constants by working at an ionophore concentration of 3 X 10(-8) M or less and by employing pH values which preclude interference by the mixed ionophore/hydroxide species. Under these conditions, the relationship between log KMA' and pH is linear and displays a slope of 1.0. pH-independent stability constants were calculated by using pH-dependent stability constants and the known value of the ionophore's protonation constant in this solvent. The logarithms of the values obtained ranged from 7.54 +/- 0.06 for Ni2+ to 3.60 +/- 0.06 for Ba2+. The selectivity sequence and relative affinities (in parentheses) for the species MA+ are as follows: Ni2+ (977) greater than Co2+ (331) greater than Zn2+ (174) greater than Mn2+ (34) greater than Mg2+ (1.00) approximately equal to Ca2+ (0.89) greater than Sr2+ (0.20) greater than Ba2+ (0.11). Data are discussed in comparison to other studies on the complexation properties of A23187 and in terms of their significance to interpreting the transport properties of this ionophore.