Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Cyanocobalamin as source of complexing agent

LHcheM - 24-10-2011 at 01:12

So recently I dunno why I got a huge amount of cyanocobalamin, and the porphyrin ring makes me to think of the possible reactions of this enormous molecule can have.

Apart from playing with its supernucleophilicity (which I have already done), perhaps one of the most interesting reaction is to try to replace its central cobalt atom with other metal ions.

From the total synthesis of cyanocobalamin by R. B. Woodward, there's a step that an intermediate to cobyric acid used zinc for a template synthesis, which it can be removed by HCl
http://www.synarchive.com/syn/71
however, as an amateur chemist, how can I sure that the central ion is removed? When I added HCl into a solution of cyanocobalamin, no observable change can be made. Can anyone suggest some reactions to do with it? or any methods of playing with these kind of complex? (ie exchange it with another metal ion in a porphyrin)