I need to crystallize my metal complexes of cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc. What would be the best solvent to use? I read in the literature review saying it's either DMF or DMSO.
Tried the DMF but it's only partially soluble. I might not be using DMSO since it will take years to evaporate ahaha. Thank you in advance!
A single solvent may be inappropriate for all the metals ions. However, mixture of the two solvents can be experimented (Dimethylformamide + Dimethyl sulfoxide) at different ratio under a close watch. In addition to that, parameters such temperature, pressure, amount/concentration can also be altered.Good morning and thank you.
A single solvent may be inappropriate for all the metals ions. However, mixture of the two solvents can be experimented (Dimethylformamide + Dimethyl sulfoxide) at different ratio under a close watch. In addition to that, parameters such temperature, pressure, amount/concentration can also be altered.Good morning and thank you.
Dear Dayang,
your question is unfortunately rather un-precise.
Solubility of a material is a question of "likelyness" of the material with the solvent. You know that unpolar organic compounds dissolve in organic solvents and typical inorganic salts might be dissolved in water.
Transition metal complexes can be quite organic (when having large organic ligands). Then they might be dissolved in alkanes or benzene. They can be charged or contain inorganic ligands such as halides, which makes them soluble in water or highly polar solvents such as DMF, DMSO, DMA. Complexes can be also something in between. Then they might be best dissolved in CH2Cl2 or THF
So, you have to tell much more about your complex to get a serious answer.
Important: be careful with highly polar solvent, they are usually reasonable ligands, e.g. acetonitrile, DMSO, DMF, alcohols and thus might replace your original ligands.
It depends on the solubility of your complex as well as possible interactions with the solvent. Personally, I like to avoid DMF and DMSO because of their very limited volatility. Some of the good choices are THF, acetonitrile, and toluene. But still the exact choice is variable from a complex to another.
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