Past exam of the chemistry course of the year 4 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / Paper 3 / Section E / 44 / b

The predominant self-sorted distribution is $[\mathrm{Zn}(1){]}^{2+}$, $[\mathrm{Li}(2){]}^{+}$ and free 3, so the reporter remains mainly in its 554 nm state. zinc benefits from the six amine donors of 1 without forcing 2 into its strained zinc-binding conformation. lithium occupies 2 because its lithium affinity exceeds that of 3. Each metal is consumed in the preferred complex, leaving the reporter unoccupied.

This is a dominant-species prediction. A tenfold affinity difference alone would not guarantee quantitative lithium sorting if the absolute affinities were weak or if free metal and all competing complexes had appreciable populations. Concentration and equilibrium constants are not supplied, so an exact species fraction is not justified.