We have developed a water-based synthesis for the preparation of 4-substituted 1,2,4-triazole ligands with highly polar functional groups. This general synthetic approach has allowed us to prepare two sulfonate functionalized 4-substituted 1,2,4-triazole anions ( L1(-)= 4-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)benzenesulfonate; L2(-)= 4-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethanesulfonate). Reaction of these ligands with cadmium(...