Sulfur-containing macrocyclic ligands as reagents for metal-ion discrimination

As part of an overall investigation of heavy metal-ion discrimination, the interaction of a selection of transition and post transition metal ions with mixed donor macrocyclic ligands incorporating thioether sulfur donors has been investigated; the ligands incorporate various macrocyclic ring sizes and donor atom combinations as well as exhibiting both single ring and linked ring topologies. In these studies emphasis has been placed on investigating the factors influencing metal ion discrimination, with particular attention being given to achieving selectivity for silver(I) over lead(II).