Incorporation of various metal ions into a poly(8-hydroxyquinoline) (PHQ)matrix via a complexation mechanism to form the corresponding coordination polymers was investigated experimentally and computationally. TGA, DTG, MS, and elemental analysis measurements show that the polymeric chelates of copper(II) ion with the PHQ matrix have a hydrophilic nature about two-times stronger than the salt (i.e., copper acetate monohydrate). The results of DSC, TGA, and DTG suggest that the PHQ-Cu(II) matrix is more thermally stable
than the copper acetate complex. A first-order derivative treatment of the UV-visible absorption spectra of the matrixes under investigation is sensitive to at least 1.5-times that of the normal (zero-order derivative) spectra. Analysis of the absorbance vs. mole fraction data for metal ions such as Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Fe(III), which are coordinated to the PHQ matrix, afforded information about the equilibria that prevailed in solution. The largest stability constant (log b) corresponds to a stiochiometric ratio of 2PHQ:1Mn+. The results are supported by elemental analysis, TGA, DTG, and mass spectroscopic measurements, and are consistent with molecular mechanics (MM+) calculations. A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of Cu(II) ion in solution by coordination with the PHQ matrix is proposed. The method has been applied successfully to the
determination of Cu(II) ion in Heamoton capsule samples (mg/g). The proposed method is in excellent agreement with the determination of Cu(II) ion by atomic absorption spectrometry.