Hydration to the Poly(oxyethylene) Derivative Complexes of Alkali Metal Ions and Barium Ion in 1,2-Dichloroethane

Abstract

Abstract A series of poly(oxyethylene) derivatives (POE compound) complexes of alkali metal and barium ions were extracted into 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) by forming ion-pairs with picrate ion. Water molecules were coextracted into 1,2-DCE with the ion-pairs. The mean number of water molecules bound to the POE compound, XH2O,S, and its complex, XH2O,comp, in water saturated with 1,2-DCE was determined by means of aquametry. The XH2O,S value increases with the increase in the number of the oxyethylene units (EO unit) of the POE compound. The XH2O,comp value decreases in the order Li+ > Na+ > K+ ≈ Rb+ ≈ Cs+ in any POE compound systems, and increases with the number of EO units of the POE compounds for a given metal ion. These results are interpreted by the hypothesis that the water molecules bound to the complex are those hydrated to the central metal ion, and the hydrated metal ion is surrounded by the EO chain with a helical conformation in the complex. The large number of water molecules are coordinating to the lithium ion complexes and bring about a serious distortion in the helical structure of the complexes. Because of the ion-pair formation with two picrate ions, the XH2O,comp values of barium ion complexes are smaller than those of potassium ion complexes.