Coordination Environment: A New Approach to the Sensing of Lead (II) Itself

Author

Kristina Marie Nespechal

Date of Award

7-2006

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Chemistry

First Advisor

Dr. James J. Kiddle

Second Advisor

Dr. John Chateauneuf

Third Advisor

Dr. Sherine Obare

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Lead(II) is a silent poison that has plagued society since 3800 B. C. The average intake of lead in the United States alone is 50 μg per day, which is approximately 100-1000 times greater than that of prehistoric lead levels. Regardless of the banning of lead in paints and gasoline, lead poisoning prevails as a major environmental health risk. Science has the ability to address the concern with this environmental contaminant. The future production of an economical and reliable test kit for lead(II) relies on the luminescence of the heavy metal itself.

The absorption and emission spectra for a series of tetraaza lead(II) complexes (([12]aneN₄) lead(II) nitrate, ([14]aneN₄) lead(II) nitrate, ([15]aneN₄) lead(II) nitrate) were recorded in propylene carbonate at 298 K. In addition, molar absorbtivity, lifetime, and quantum efficiency data was collected.

Our investigation demonstrated that the ambient emissive properties of lead(II) itself are controlled via the distance this heavy atom resides above a tetraaza framework and by the stereochemical activity of the 'inert' lone pair of electrons on lead(II). The greater the distance lead(II) is from the tetraaza plane, the greater the emission intensity, lifetime, and quantum yield are.

Recommended Citation

Nespechal, Kristina Marie, "Coordination Environment: A New Approach to the Sensing of Lead (II) Itself" (2006). Masters Theses. 4412.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4412