Schiff base equilibria. V. Beryllium complexes of N-ethylsalicylideneimine

Abstract

The formation constant and pK at 25° of the Schiff base N- ethylsalicylideneimine (HL) have been found by spectrophotometry to be 2.75x10⁴ and 11.8 respectively. The distribution coefficient of the base from water into toluene is 160. The stability constants of the beryllium complexes determined by solvent distribution are logβ₁ 10.4 and log β₂ 18.3, and the distribution coefficient of BeL₂ is 260. At high pH the equilibria are complicated by hydrolysis of the Be²⁺ ion and by formation of the mixed complex, BeL(OH)^-₂. The latter is formed according to the reaction BeL(H₂O)⁺₂ ↔ BeL(OH)^-₂+2H⁺ with logK^m₂ -18.4.