The complexation of aqueous metal ions relevant to biological applications. 2. Reactions of copper(II) citrate and copper(II) succinate with selected amino acids

Abstract

Addition of amino acids, glycine, alanine, and serine, to poorly soluble copper(II) salts [copper(II) citrate and copper(II) succinate] all increase solubility of the copper(II) salts. Relative increases in solubility follow the polarity trend in the selected amino acids, with serine creating the greatest increase in solubility. Simultaneous equilibria calculations indicate the formation of mixed-ligand complexes in the copper(II) succinate–amino acid systems, the first time such mixed-ligand complexes have been observed. In contrast, mixed-ligand complexes are not predicted in the copper(II) citrate–amino acid systems. Potential bioavailability of copper(II) appears to be increased by the inclusion of amino acids in solution, roughly in parallel with the increase in solubility of the copper(II) salt. Therefore, measurement of the change in solubility caused by addition of amino acids to aqueous solution gives qualitative insight to the potential increase in bioavailability of the metal ion.