Potassium Sensing Calix[4]arene Crown Ethers

1,3-Alternate calix[4]arene crown-5 (1) and corresponding biscrown-5 (2) were synthesized and the complexation behavior with alkali metal ions examined. For both 1 and 2, potassium ion was selectively extracted from aqueous phase into organic phase over other alkali metal ions based on two phase extraction experiment. The complexation ratio between calix[4]arene biscrown-5 (2), in which two crown cavities connect to the calix[4]arene framework by 1,3-alternate fashion and potassium metal ion is found to 1:1 by proton NMR spectroscopy and extraction equilibria. Association constants (logK_a) for 1 and 2 were determined to give 2.51 and 3.49, respectively.     

Exchange coupling mediated through-bonds and through-space in conformationally constrained polyradical scaffolds: calix[4]arene nitroxide tetraradicals and diradical

Calix[4]arenes constrained to the 1,3-alternate conformation and functionalized at the upper rim with four and two tert-butylnitroxides have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography, magnetic resonance (EPR and (1)H NMR) spectroscopy, and magnetic studies. The 1,3-alternate nitroxide tetraradical and diradical provide unique polyradical scaffolds for dissection of the through-bond and through-space intramolecular exchange couplings. In addition, detailed magnetic studies of the previously reported calix[4]arene nitroxide tetraradical, which possesses cone conformation in solution, reveal conformational dependence of exchange coupling. Through-bond coupling between the adjacent nitroxide radicals is mediated by the nitroxide-m-phenylene-CH(2)-m-phenylene-nitroxide coupling pathway, and through-space coupling is found between the diagonal nitroxide radicals at the conformationally constrained N...N distance of 5-6 A. Magnetic studies of the calix[4]arene polyradical scaffolds in frozen solutions show that the through-bond exchange coupling in the 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene tetraradical is antiferromagnetic, while that in cone calix[4]arene tetraradical is ferromagnetic. The through-space exchange couplings are antiferromagnetic in both cone and 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene tetraradical, as well as in the 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene diradical. The exchange coupling constants (|J/k|) are of the order of 1 K.     

Synthesis of cone, partial-cone, and 1,3-alternate 25, 27-Bis

The preparation of 25,27-bis[1-(2-ethyl)hexyl]- and 25, 27-bis[1-(2-tert-butoxy)ethyl]calix[4]arene-crown-6 combining one polyether crown-6 and one alkylchain O-attached on each side of a calix[4]arene in the cone, partial-cone, and 1,3-alternate conformations are reported. The control over 25, 27-bisalkylcalix[4]arene-crown-6 conformation via varying specific reaction conditions was studied. The series of calix[4]arenes have been prepared by two routes, which differ in the order in which the alkyl or polyether groups were introduced. Moreover, methods have been developed to selectively prepare the cone and partial-cone conformers by using an appropriate base in the alkylation reactions. The conformations of these new derivatives have been probed by (1)H NMR analysis and X-ray crystallography. The (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of 25,27-bis[1-(2-ethyl)hexyl]calix[4]arene-crown-6, 1, 3-alternate 1, cone 2, and partial-cone 3 are also discussed.     

Modular assembly of a preorganised, ditopic receptor for dicarboxylates

Two types of calix[4]arene derived hosts for anions with, respectively, 1,3-alternate and cone conformations have been prepared; the 1,3-alternate system binds dicarboxylate anions in a ditopic manner while the cone compounds are deprotonated by carboxylates.     

Band intensity in the IR spectra and conformations of calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene

The experimental IR and Far IR spectra of the calix[4]arene, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, thialcalix[4]arene and p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene were examined at different temperatures and interpreted. The band frequencies and intensities in the IR spectra of the calix[4]arene and thialcalix[4]arene were calculated. The absorption curves of the four possible calix[4]arene conformations: cone, partial cone, 1,2- and 1,3-alternate were computed. The bands characteristic for each conformation are defined and assigned. The obtained spectra-structure correlation can be used for the characteristic of calixarenes conformation.     

The Preorganization Effect of the Calix[4]arene Platform on the Extraction Properties of Acetylhydrazide Groups with Transition Metal Ions

The binding properties of the cone conformer of O,O,O,O-tetrakis[hydrazinocarbonylmethyl]-4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene, the cone and the 1,3-alternate conformers of the corresponding thia analogue have been evaluated by means of liquid–liquid extraction for a large variety of metal ions. The extraction constants and the stoichiometries of the complexes formed have been determined. Comparison of the extraction properties of calix[4]arenes with their acyclic monomeric analogue clearly demonstrated, that the preorganization of acetylhydrazide groups on the calix[4]arene platform is the cause for a significant improvement of its binding properties. The presence of additional “soft” nitrogen binding sites in acetylhydrazide derivatives of calix[4]arenes compared to their amide derivatives leads to a shift from their classical selectivity for alkali and alkaline earth cations to transition metals. The cone conformer of tetrathiacalix[4]arene shows higher selectivity in a series of d-metal ions compared with its “classical” analogue. The 1,3-alternate conformer exhibits an excellent extraction selectivity for Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺.     

Proton di-ionizable p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-crown-6 compounds in cone, partial-cone and 1,3-alternate conformations: synthesis and alkaline earth metal cation extraction

Novel proton di-ionizable p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-crown-6 compounds in cone, partial-cone and 1,3-alternate conformations are synthesized to compare the efficiency and selectivity with which they extract alkaline earth metal ions. In these ligands, a crown-6 polyether unit links alternate aromatic rings of the calix[4]arene framework. To the remaining lower-rim positions are attached oxyacetic acid or N-(X)sulfonyl oxyacetamide groups. Changing the conformation varies the spatial relationship between a polyether-complexed divalent metal ion and the ionized side arms of the ligands. This is found to markedly affect the efficiency and selectivity in competitive solvent extraction of alkaline earth metal ions from aqueous solutions into chloroform by the di-ionizable calix[4]arene-crown-6 ligands.     

Electrochemical investigation of nano-baskets of calix[4]-1,3-crowns-5,6 complexes

Four nano-baskets of calixarene including cone 25,27-di(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arene-crown-5, 1,3-alternate 25,27-di[carboxymethoxy]-calix[4]arene-crown-5, cone 25,27-bis[carboxymethoxy]calix[4]arene-crown-6 and 1,3-alternate 25,27-di[carboxymethoxy]-calix[4]arene-crown-6 were synthesized and their binding abilities towards alkali and alkaline earth metals as well as some lanthanides were studied using differential pulse voltammetry. The novelty of this study was investigation of those macrocyclic complexes by voltammetric behaviors of two acidic moieties in each scaffold during complexation of crown ether ring. Their voltammetric behaviors were closely related to the complex formation by entrapment of cation into crown ether cavity and ion–dipole interaction between cation and acidic moieties in calixcrowns. The results revealed the selective changes in voltammetric behavior of synthesized scaffolds toward the cations. Moreover, the position of crown ether in 1,3-alternate instead of cone enhanced the domain of binding ability to more cations. Furthermore, it was shown that those carboxylic acid moieties, which were far from the crown ether ring in the 1,3-alternate, did not affected by encapsulated cations in the coordination space of crown ether and showed no voltammetric behavior.     

Synthesis and Conformational Studies of Lower Rim Cyanomethyl Substituted Calix[4]arenes

The conformational inversion characteristics of calix[4]arenes carrying cyanomethyl groups on the lower rim have been investigated. Complete conversion from a 1,3-alternate to a partial cone conformation was observed for the 1,3-dicyanomethyl ether of calix[4]arene at room temperature, while at higher temperatures further inversion to a 1:1 mixture of partial cone and cone conformers occurred.     

Impact of multiple cation-pi interactions upon calix[4]arene substrate binding and specificity

The cation-pi interaction influence on the conformation and binding of calix[4]arenes to alkali-metal cations has been studied using a dehydroxylated model. The model allows for the separation of cooperative cation-pi and electrostatic forces commonly found in the binding motifs found in calixarene complexes. Starting from the four well-known calix[4]arene conformations, six conformers for this dehydroxylated model (cone, partial cone, flattened cone, chair, 1,2-alternate, and 1,3-alternate) have been characterized by geometry optimization and frequency analysis using the Becke three-parameter exchange functional with the nonlocal correlation functional of Lee, Yang, and Parr and the 6-31G(d) basis set. Without the stabilization provided by the hydroxyl hydrogen bonds in calix[4]arene, neither the cone nor the 1,2-alternate conformation is computed to be a ground-state structure. The partial cone, flattened cone, chair, and 1,3-alternate conformers have been identified as ground-state structures in a vacuum, with the partial cone and the 1,3-alternate as the lowest energy minima in the aromatic model. The C(4)(v)() cone conformation is found to be a transition structure separating the flattened cone (C(2)(v)()) conformers. The energetic and structural preferences of the calix[4]arene model change dramatically when it is bound to Li(+), Na(+), and K(+). The number of pi-faces, the positioning of these pi-faces with respect to the cations, and the nature of the cation were studied as factors in the binding strength. A detailed study of the distances and angles between the aromatic ring centroids and the cations reveals the energetic advantages of multiple weak cation-pi interactions. The geometries are often far from the optimal cation-pi interaction in which the cation approaches in a perpendicular path the aromatic ring center, where the quadrupole moment is strongest. The results reveal that multiple weaker nonoptimal cation-pi interactions contribute significantly to the overall binding strength. This theoretical analysis underscores the importance of neighboring aromatic faces and provides new insight into the significance of cation-pi binding, not only for calix[4]arenes, but also for other supramolecular and biological systems.     

Synthesis of an unsymmetrically doubly bridged calix[4]arene in the 1,3-alternate conformation

We report the synthesis of the first calix[4]arene constrained to a 1,3-alternate conformation by one crown ether and one di-aza-benzo crown ether bridgings. Preliminary binding properties are also given.     

Regioselective complexation of metal ion in chromogenic calix[4]biscrowns

A series of 1,3-alternate chromogenic azo-coupled calix[4]biscrowns in which the crown size varied with crown-5 and crown-6 have been synthesized. From the results of UV/vis band shift upon metal ion complexation, metal ions were entrapped only by the upper crown loop, causing the hypsochromic shift on the UV/vis spectra. Calix[4]bis(crown-5)(crown-6) revealed K(+) ion selectivity while calix[4]bis(crown-6)(crown-6) showed Cs(+) ion selectivity caused by a size complementarity between hosts and guest ions. From the UV band shift of 4 in which the NO(2) group is replaced by the NH(2) group, we observed bathochromic shift upon the metal ion addition, indicating that the metal ion is encapsulated in the lower crown ring because of strengthened pi-cation interaction by introducing the electron-donating NH(2) unit regardless of the steric hindrance between two azo-phenyl groups adjacent to the crown ring.     

Shaping the cavity of calixarene architecture for molecular recognition: synthesis and conformational properties of new azocalix[4]arenes

A series of new azocalix[4]arenes containing one, two, three, and four free phenolic groups have been synthesized through the reaction of 4-nitro- and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazines with flexible calix[4]arene diquinones as well as through diazocoupling reactions of calix[4]arenes. Characterization of synthesized compounds by spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction revealed that azocalix[4]arenes adopt a cone conformation if they contain at least one free phenolic group. Partial cone or 1,3-alternate conformers of azocalix[4]arenes result only when they are devoid of free phenolic groups. The results can be utilized to shape calix[4]arene architecture for ionic and molecular recognition.     

新型偶氮杯[4]芳烃的合成与构象研究

使用相应的w-硫醚羧酸酰氯与杯[4]芳烃或者偶氮杯[4]芳烃酰化合成了一类新型的杯[4]芳烃衍生物。分离得到六个新化合物4a-4c和5a-5c，并使用MALDI, EA, ¹H和¹³C NMR进行了表征。NMR图谱表明偶氮杯[4]芳烃衍生物 5a-5c均为1,3-转换构型，而4a-4c则均为锥式构型。对偶氮杯[4]芳烃衍生物5a-5c的红外和紫外性质也进行了研究。     

The properties of the new Mn(II)–Co(II)–Mn(II)-type hetero-trinuclear oxime metal complexes with N4 and N4O2 ligands

1,3- and 1,2-calix[4]crown-7 and calix[4]crown-9 cone conformers were synthesized in acceptable yields by sequential introduction of two distal or proximal polyethylene glycolic chains with terminal hydroxyls at the lower rim, monotosylation, and intramolecular ring closure reaction. According to the two-phase extraction experiment, the title compounds showed mediocre affinity for alkali and alkaline earth metal picrates. The 1,2-calix[4]crown-9 extracted Sr²⁺ selectively among other alkaline earth metal cations.     

Structure and conformational equilibrium of thiacalix[4]arene by density functional theory

Density functional theory calculations for the structure and conformational equilibrium of thiacalix[4]arene are reported. The conformational equilibrium of thiacalix[4]arene, a heterocalixarene in which the phenol groups are bridged by sulphur atoms is compared to the conformational equilibrium of calix[4]arene. Thiacalix[4]arene conformational energies relative to the cone conformer (ΔE's) are reduced in comparison with calix[4]arene. This conformational change is in qualitative agreement with recent NMR spectroscopy measurements of the conformational equilibrium for a tetraethylether of thiacalix[4]arene in a CDCl₃ solution which indicates an enhanced chemical exchange of thiacalixarene conformers in comparison with similar methylene bridged structures. Density functional theory results for the structure of thiacalix[4]arene are in good agreement with recent X-ray diffraction measurements. The electrostatic potentials in the cone conformers of thiacalix[4]arene and calix[4]arene suggest that their complexation or recognition abilities can be significantly different. Dipole moments of the four thiacalix[4]arene conformers are in the order: cone>1,2-alternate>partial-cone>1,3-alternate.     

The selective dealkylations: the formylations of the three easily accessible calix[4]arene conformers immobilized by propyl and isopropyl groups

Formyl groups were introduced to the para positions of the three easily accessible calix[4]arene conformers immobilized by four propyl or isopropyl groups by Duff reaction. Propyl group led to exhaustively formylated products due to the weak steric hinderance effect. While as for the isopropoxy calix[4]arenes, with the increase of steric hinderance, 1,3-alternate conformer gave exhaustively formylated product with no alkyl group dealkylating; partial cone conformer gave the tetraformylated proximal A,B-diether in 1,3-alternate conformation; and cone conformer led to triformylated derivatives accompanied by the selective dealkylations of three or two diametrical alkyl groups. The results indicated that the structures of the products were greatly influenced by the steric hinderance effect of the starting compounds.     

Rigid versus flexible: how important is ligand "preorganization" for metal ion recognition by lower rim-functionalized calix[4]arenes?

For an assessment of the outcomes from use of an appropriately "preorganized" calixarene-based ionophore versus its conformationally mobile prototype, solvent extraction propensities of flexible calix[4]arene di-[N-(X-sulfonyl)carboxamides] for alkali, alkaline earth metal cations, Pb2+, Ag+ and Hg2+ are compared with those for seven new rigid analogs fixed in the cone, partial cone and 1,3-alternate conformations. For each of the metal ions, the preferred calix[4]arene conformation was determined from the NMR spectra for the metal salt of the flexible ligand. Except for Ag+, flexible calix[4]arene di-[N-(X-sulfonyl)carboxamides] were found to provide greater metal ion extraction efficiency and better selectivity than the corresponding "preorganized" ionophores.     

Cesium Complex of an Unsymmetrical Calix[4]crown-dibenzocrown-6

An unsymmetrical calix[4]-bis-crown ether having both conventional crown-6 and dibenzocrown-6 rings in a fixed 1,3-alternate conformation was synthesized with good yield by the reaction of a monocyclic calix[4]crown-6 with dibenzodimesylate in the presence of cesium carbonate. The cesium ion selectivity among alkali metal ions increased compared to symmetrical calix[4]-bis-crown-6. The solid state structureof the ligand-cesium complex illustrates a 1:2 complex ratio. On the contrary, insolution, e.g., extraction equilibrium and ¹H NMR experiment gave a 1:1 complex ratio. From the result of the chemical shift change upon metal ion complex, the cesium ion seems to prefer the dibenzocrown loop to the conventional crown-6 ring.     

New preorganized calix[4]arenes. Part II. Double Schiff-based calix[4]arenes derived from 4,6,10,12,16,18,22,24,25,26,27,28-dodecamethyl-5,11,17,23-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene

We describe the condensation of an appropriate tetraaldehyde derivative of mesitol calix[4]arene with 1,n-diaminoalkanes to afford double Schiff-base calix[4]arene receptors in the 1,3-alternate conformation.