Thermodynamic and spectroscopic studies of cadmium(II)-N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (PMG) complexes

Speciation and equilibria in the H⁺-Cd²⁺-N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (PMG, H₃L) system have been studied in 0.1 M Na(Cl) medium at 25.0 °C. Formation constants for a series of mononuclear complexes, CdHL, CdL⁻, CdL₂ ⁴⁻ and CdL(OH)²⁻ were determined from potentiometric titrations. The structures of the predominating species CdL⁻, and CdL₂ ⁴⁻ in solution were investigated using EXAFS and IR spectroscopic techniques. In the 1:1 complex bonds are formed between the Cd(II) ion and all three donor groups (amino, carboxylate, phosphonate) of the PMG molecule resulting in two 5-membered chelate rings. At the remaining three of the corners of the distorted Cd(II) octahedra oxygens were found which are replaced by donor groups of a second PMG molecule in the 1:2 complex. Furthermore, a solid phase consisting of Cd₉(PMG)₆(H₂O)₁₂ · 6H₂O crystals was synthesized and the crystal structure was determined. The structure consists of six CdL⁻ octahedra connected through a seventh Cd-O octahedron in the centre of the entity, with two additional Cd-O octahedra located at the apices of the unit formed.