Stability of binary and ternary copper(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2'-bipyridyl and some alpha-amino acids in aqueous medium.

Interactions of certain amino acids with some metal ions have significant consequences in biological systems. Metal ions can act as co-factors in the regulation of enzymatic reactions. Interactions of metal ions with amino acid side chains or with different organic complexes is also essential for many biological events. In this study, the stability constants of 1 : 1 : 1 ternary complexes of Cu(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) as the primary ligand, and 2,2'-bipyridyl (Bpy) and some selected alpha-amino acids [(glycine (Gly), leucine (Leu), glutamine (Gln)] as secondary ligands, were identified in I=0.1 M ionic medium at t=(25+/-0.1) degrees C in aqueous solutions, by potentiometry. The protonation constants of the free ligands and the stability constants of the binary and ternary systems were also determined under the same experimental conditions. The protonation constants of all of the ligands and the stability constants of the formed complexes were evaluated by using the BEST computer program. The stabilities of the ternary complexes have been quantitatively compared with those of the corresponding binary complexes in terms of the some parameters. The concentration distributions of the complexes in solution were also evaluated. Species distributions as a function of pH reveal that the MAB ternary complexes predominate over a pH range, where M=Cu(II); A=Phen; B=Bpy, Gly, Leu and Gln.