Non-template synthesis and electrospray mass spectrometric study of some lanthanide(III) complexes

Abstract A new cryptand H 3 L was synthesized by the direct condensation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) with 2,6-diformyl-4-methoxyphenol (dmp) in the absence of a template ion. The complexes [M(H 3 L)(NO 3 )](NO 3 ) 2 · x H 2 O· y MeOH (M=Y, Sm, Nd; x =1–3, y =1,2) were characterized by several physical methods. The behaviours of the ligand and Nd(III) complex were investigated by electrospray mass spectrometry. The Nd(III) cryptate exhibits high thermodynamic and kinetic stability in solution for no cryptate fragmentation peaks were observed. A complex peak formed by the overlap of two species is also observed. The isotopic distributions of peak clusters in the mass spectrum of the Nd(III) cryptate were calculated.