Potentiometric studies of binary and ternary complexes involving cadmium(II) and nitrilo-tris(methyl phosphonic acid) with amino acids, peptides and DNA constituents.

The complexing properties of nitrilo-tris(methylphosphonic acid) (NTP) with cadmium(II) were investigated pH-metrically at 25 degrees C and at ionic strength of 0.1 mol dm(-3) (NaNO3). Stoichiometry and stability constants for the complexes formed are reported. Cadmium (II) forms Cd(NTP)(4-) and the corresponding hydroxy complexes. The ternary complexes are formed in a stepwise mechanism whereby NTP binds to cadmium(II), followed by coordination of amino acids, peptides or DNA. The concentration distribution of the various complex species has been evaluated.