Synthesis and Complexation Behavior Studies of Novel Bis-crown Ethers

The novel unique structures of bis-crown ethers were successfully synthesized from tri (propylene glycol) di-acrylate with amino- and aza-crown ethers through Michael addition. The crown ethers contained the primary and the secondary amine group such as 2-aminomethyl crown ethers, 4-aminobenzo crown ethers and 1-aza crown ethers. The newly synthesized bis-crown ethers were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass spectrum, respectively. The newly synthesized host compounds of bis-crown ethers showed complex ability with various sizes of alkali metal cations such as Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺. The complexation behavior was examined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and UV spectrometry.     

Synthesis of Double-Armed Benzo-15-crown-5 and Their Complexation Thermodynamics with Alkali Cations

A series of double-armed benzo-15-crown-5 lariats (3–8) have been synthesized by the reaction of 4′, 5′-bis(bromomethyl)-benzo-15-crown-5 (2) with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 4-methoxyphenol, 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-acetamidophenol in 43 ~ 82% yields, respectively. The complex stability constants (K _S) and thermodynamic parameters for the stoichiometric 1:1 and/or 1:2 complexes of benzo-15-crown-5 1 and double-armed crown ethers 3–8 with alkali cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺) have been determined in methanol–water (V/V=8:2) at 25 °C by means of microcalorimetric titrations. As compared with the parent benzo-15-crown-5 1, double-armed crown ethers 3–8 show unremarkable changes in the complex stability constants upon complexation with Na⁺, but present significantly enhanced binding ability toward cations larger than the crown cavity by the secondly sandwich complexation. Thermodynamically, the sandwich complexations of crown ethers 3-8 with cations are mostly enthalpy-driven processes accompanied with a moderate entropy loss. The binding ability and selectivity of cations by the double-armed crown ethers are discussed from the viewpoints of the electron density, additional binding site, softness, spatial arrangement, and especially the cooperative binding of two crown ether molecules toward one metal ion.     

一种基于硫杂杯[4]芳烃的高效银离子载体

合成了基于下缘含有酰肼基团的硫杂杯芳烃衍生物的银离子载体1,其核磁研究证实硫杂杯芳烃以1,3-交替构象存在,并且通过非竞争萃取实验和竞争萃取实验研究了它对碱金属和过渡金属离子（Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ag⁺）的键合能力和选择性。实验结果表明：将酰肼基团引入1,3-交替构象的硫杂杯芳烃骨架的下缘可以提高其对Ag⁺的键合能力和选择性,同时,对Cu²⁺的萃取能力较弱,对碱金属离子和其它的重金属离子几乎没有萃取能力。进一步的核磁滴定和电喷雾质谱实验显示化合物1与银离子形成配合物的配合计量比为1：1,由此推断主要由“N-Ag⁺”配位键以及硫杂杯芳烃骨架的协同作用构成了化合物1与银离子的配合模式。     

Synthesis of Double-Armed Benzo-15-crown-5 and Their Complexation Thermodynamics with Alkali Cations

A series of double-armed benzo-15-crown-5 lariats (3–8) have been synthesized by the reaction of 4′, 5′-bis(bromomethyl)-benzo-15-crown-5 (2) with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 4-methoxyphenol, 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-acetamidophenol in 43 ~ 82% yields, respectively. The complex stability constants (K _S) and thermodynamic parameters for the stoichiometric 1:1 and/or 1:2 complexes of benzo-15-crown-5 1 and double-armed crown ethers 3–8 with alkali cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺) have been determined in methanol–water (V/V=8:2) at 25 °C by means of microcalorimetric titrations. As compared with the parent benzo-15-crown-5 1, double-armed crown ethers 3–8 show unremarkable changes in the complex stability constants upon complexation with Na⁺, but present significantly enhanced binding ability toward cations larger than the crown cavity by the secondly sandwich complexation. Thermodynamically, the sandwich complexations of crown ethers 3-8 with cations are mostly enthalpy-driven processes accompanied with a moderate entropy loss. The binding ability and selectivity of cations by the double-armed crown ethers are discussed from the viewpoints of the electron density, additional binding site, softness, spatial arrangement, and especially the cooperative binding of two crown ether molecules toward one metal ion.Graphical Abstract Synthesis of Double-Armed Benzo-15-crown-5 and Their Complexation Thermodynamics with Alkali CationsYU LIU*, JIAN-RONG HAN, ZHONG-YU DUAN and HENG-YI ZHANG This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number.     

Determination of orders of relative alkali metal ion affinities of crown ethers and acyclic analogs by the kinetic method

Ladders of relative alkali ion affinities of crown ethers and acyclic analogs were constructed by using the kinetic method. The adducts consisting of two different ethers bound by an alkali metal ion, (M₁ + Cat + M₂)⁺, were formed by using fast atom bombardment ionization to desorb the crown ethers and alkali metal ions, then collisionally activated to induce dissociation to (M₁ + Cat)⁺ and (M₂ + Cat)⁺ ions. Based on the relative abundances of the cationized ethers formed, orders of relative alkali ion affinities were assigned. The crown ethers showed higher affinities for specific sizes of metal ions, and this was attributed in part to the optimal spatial fit concept. Size selectivities were more pronounced for the smaller alkali metal ions such as Li⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺ than the larger ions such as Cs⁺ and Rb⁺. In general, the cyclic ethers exhibited greater alkali metal ion affinities than the corresponding acyclic analogs, although these effects were less dramatic as the size of the alkali metal ion increased.     

Synthesis and Complexing Properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>′-Bis(2-hydroxyethyl) Diaza Crown Ethers

The stability constants of complexes of 12-, 15-, and 18-membered diaza crown ethers, N,N′-dimethyl diaza crown ethers, and N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) diaza crown ethers with alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions in 95% aqueous methanol at 25°C were determined. The stability of the complexes of unsubstituted diaza crown ethers with alkali metal cations is low, probably because of stabilization of the exo,exo conformation of the ligands due to interaction of the nitrogen lone electron pairs with the solvent. The complexes with the double-charged cations are appreciably more stable. N,N′-Dimethyl diaza crown ethers form stable complexes with all the ions studied. As compared to the dimethyl derivatives, N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) diaza crown ethers form more stable complexes with the Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ ions, which is due to participation of the side hydroxyethyl groups in the coordination.__________Translated from Zhurnal Obshchei Khimii, Vol. 75, No. 4, 2005, pp. 665–669.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kulygina, Vetrogon, Basok, Luk’yanenko.     

Chromogenic azole diazothiacrown ethers

Azocrown ethers with sulphur atoms and pyrrole or imidazole residue as a part of macrocycle have been synthesised. Their metal complexation abilities in acetonitrile were studied using UV–vis spectrophotometry. The largest spectral changes were observed for both pyrrole- and imidazole-azothiacrown ethers on complexation with Pb^2 + , Cu^2 + , Zn^2 + , Ni^2 + , Co^2 +  and Ag⁺ ions. In the case of alkali and alkaline earth metal ions no spectral changes were found. Preliminary studies of ion-selective membrane electrodes with synthesised ionophores are presented. In the measurement for transition/heavy metal cations, only copper and lead give high responses. X-ray structure of 18-membered pyrrole azothiacrown ether is described.     

Solvent effect on complexation reactions

The inclusion complexation of aromatic amines with cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) capped with alkali metal cations was studied spectrophotometrically. We showed that CB[6] capped with alkali metal cations forms a 1:1 inclusion complex with the aromatic amine guests (neutral organic molecules), independent of the length of guest molecules. The effects of salts on the inclusion constants of CB[6] in the presence of different alkali salts were examined and it was found that the inclusion constants increased in the order of alkali cation Cs⁺ < Na⁺ < K⁺, suggesting the interaction of amine guests with the capped alkali metal cation. Further, the structures of the inclusion complexation of aromatic amines with CB[6] were characterized by ¹H NMR measurements. Based on the results, the inclusion abilities of CB[6] capped with alkali metal cations are discussed.     

Aminopyridyl derivative of thiacalix[4]arene-carboxylic acid as ionizable highly selective Ag+ ionophore

A novel mono-ionizable receptor 2 possessing three aminopyridyl and one carboxylic group in 1,3-alternate conformation based on thiacalix[4]arene, confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis, was prepared. For competitive solvent extraction of alkali metal (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺) and some transition metal (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, TI⁺, Ag⁺) cations from aqueous solutions into chloroform, it was found that the introduction of proton-ionizable group (carboxylic acid moiety) into the aminopyridyl-thiacalix[4]arene derivative could further improve its Ag⁺ extractability with high selectivity.     

Synthesis and complexation study of calix[4]arene diamine derivative incorporated in a polymeric backbone with chiral monomers

The novel chiral polymeric compounds containing more than one calix[4]arene have been synthesized by reacting a new calix[4]arene diamine derivative with two chiral monomers. These newly prepared compounds were studied by extraction of toxic heavy metal (Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺), silver and alkali metal (Na⁺, K⁺) cations from aqueous phase. It was observed that the resulting calixarene-based polymers have a good complexing ability towards silver, alkali metal and toxic heavy metal cations.     

Complexing properties of two benzocrown-ether moieties arranged at a cyclobutane ring system

Biscrown ethers 2a-c and 3a-c arranged at a cyclobutane ring were prepared by intermolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition of vinylated benzocrown ethers. The complexing behavior of 2a-c toward alkali metal cations was evaluated by ESI-MS analysis, liquid-liquid extraction, and the comparison of complexing stability constant. An intramolecular sandwich-type 1:1 (host/guest) complexation was observed by ESI-MS analysis in the competitive system where 2a-Na⁺, 2b-K⁺, and 2c-Cs⁺ were formed selectively. In the liquid-liquid extraction, however, 2a hardly extracted any cation, while both 2b and 2c efficiently extracted larger cations such as K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺. It was found that the complexing stability constant of 2a-Na⁺ is lower than that of benzo-15-crown-5-Na⁺ though extraordinarily high values were obtained for 2b-K⁺ and 2c-Cs⁺ complexes compared with those of 18-crown-6-K⁺ and dibenzo-24-crown-8-Cs⁺ complexes, respectively. Hence, the excellent complexing ability was achieved by using the cyclobutane ring, which strongly preorganized two benzocrown-ether moieties for the larger alkali metal cations.     

Nitro derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-alkylbenzoaza-15-crown-5: synthesis,structures, and complexation with metal and ammonium cations

A number of N-alkylnitrobenzoaza-15-crown-5 with the macrocycle N atom conjugated with the benzene ring were obtained. The structural and complexing properties of these compounds were compared with those of model nitrobenzo- and N-(4-nitrophenyl)aza-15-crown-5 using X-ray diffraction, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. The macrocyclic N atom of benzoazacrown ethers are characterized by a considerable contribution of the sp3-hybridized state and a pronounced pyramidal geometry; the crownlike conformation of the macrocycle is preorganized for cation binding, which facilitates complexation. The stability constants of the complexes of crown ethers with the NH₄ ⁺, EtNH₃ ⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ba²⁺ ions were determined by 1H NMR titration in MeCN-d₃. The most stable complexes were obtained with alkaline-earth metal cations, which is due to the higher charge density at these cations. The characteristics of the complexing ability of N-alkylnitrobenzoaza-15-crown-5 toward alkaline earth metal cations are comparable with analogous characteristics of nitrobenzo-15-crown-5 and are much better than those of N-(4-nitrophenyl)aza-15-crown-5.     

Selective complexation of alkali metal ions using crown ethers derived from calix[4]arenes: a computational investigation of the structural and energetic factors

A systematic analysis of the structural, energetic, and thermodynamic factors involved in alkali metal (i.e., Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺) complexation by four calix[4]arene crown-6 ethers in the 1,3-alternate conformation is presented here. The ligands (or hosts) in this work are identical to, or closely related to, the four molecules whose selectivity towards complexing Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ from aqueous solutions was studied experimentally by Casnati et al. (Tetrahedron 60(36):7869–7876, 2004). By dividing the complexation process into three different contributions, namely, the binding energy of the ion to the crown, the elastic energy of the crown, and the solvation effect, it becomes clear that the primary factor that determines ion selectivity in crown-6-ethers is not the size of the crown, as currently believed. All four crown ethers preferentially complex with the smallest ion (Na⁺) in the gas phase. In the condensed phase, these crown-6 ethers preferentially complex with the larger ions only because the aqueous solvation energies of the alkali metal ions make it thermodynamically less favorable to extract the smaller ions from aqueous solutions. This suggests that the current understanding of the factors influencing the selectivity of metal ion complexation by crown ethers may be in need of revision.     

Synthesis and metal extraction behavior of pyridine and 1,2,4-triazole substituted calix[4]arenes

Three series of heterocycle substituted calixarenes, derivatized at lower and upper rim, were synthesized and successfully evaluated for metal extraction towards alkali, alkaline, transition and heavy metal ions. The presence and placement of sulfur, heterocycle functionality at upper/lower rim played a crucial role toward the extractability and selectivity of metal ions. The lower rim substituted calixarenes have shown high extractability and poor selectivity. In contrast to this, upper rim substituted calixarenes exhibited good selectivity. Moreover, sulfur functionalized calixarenes have shown better selectivity for heavy metal ions than alkali and alkaline metal ions. Among upper rim substituted calixarenes, 17 and 18 were found to be suitable for Na⁺, K⁺ and Ag⁺, 19,13 for heavy metal ions i.e., Pb²⁺, Hg⁺, Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺, and 11,12 for Pb²⁺ and Ag⁺ only.     

Cation–ether complexes in the gas phase: thermodynamic insight into molecular recognition

Trends in the bond dissociation energies for the binding of the alkali metal cations, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺, to a series of ethers, 1–4 dimethyl ethers, 1 and 2 dimethoxy ethanes, and the crown ethers, 12c4, 15c5, and 18c6, are discussed. The bond energies have been determined in previous studies by analysis of the thresholds for collision-induced dissociation of the cation–ether complexes by xenon as measured in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer. Details of the analysis of the data are reviewed and the accuracy of the results ascertained by comparison with theoretical results taken from the literature. Combined, the experimental and theoretical results provide an extensive thermochemical database for evaluation of the metal-crown complexes, a simple example of molecular recognition. These results indicate the importance of optimizing the metal–oxygen bond distances and the orientation of the local dipole on the oxygen towards the metal. Further, it is shown that excited state conformers of these complexes are probably observed in several systems as a result of interesting metal-dependent dynamics in the formation of the complexes.     

Phosphorus-containing podands

A number of monopodands havingo-diphenylphosphinyl terminal groups were synthesized by alkylating sodium derivatives of oligoethylene glycols witho-(bromomethyl)phenyldiphenylphosphine. The stability constants of the complexes of these ligands with alkali metal cations at 25 °C were determined conductometrically in a THF—chloroform solution (41, v/v). The complexing ability of monopodands with respect to the cations studied increases monotonically as the number of electron-donating sites increases (from 3 to 8) for all of the cations except Li⁺ and, to some extent, Na⁺. In the case of Li⁺ a smooth decrease in the stability of the complexes is observed. The monopodands obtained in this work differ drastically in this regard from their structural isomers, bis[o-(diphenylphosphinylmethyl)phenyl] ethers of oligoethylene glycols, which had been studied previously.For part 10, see ref. 1.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 952–956, May, 1993.     

Directional Preferences of Ether O-Atoms Towards Alkali and Alkaline Earth Cations

An analysis of the environments of alkali and alkaline earth cations complexed to ethers has been made with the Cambridge Structural Database. The cations invariably lie close to the bisecting plane through the O-atoms. The larger cations show an apparent preference to approach the ether group along a tetrahedral lone pair direction, whereas Li⁺ cations tend to be found along the C? O? C bisector, i.e., along the trigonal lone pair direction. These observations are discussed in relation to recent theoretical and experimental findings.     

Ionophores in Rubidium Ion‐Selective Membrane Electrodes

Binaphthyl‐based crown ethers incorporating anthraquinone, benzoquinone, and 1,4‐dimethoxybezene have been synthesized and tested for Rb⁺ selective ionophores in the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. The membrane containing NPOE gave a better Rb⁺ selectivity than those containing either DOA or BPPA as a plasticizer. The response was linear within the concentration range of 1.0×10^?5–1.0×10^?1 M and the slope was 54.7±0.5 mV/dec. The detection limit was determined to be 9.0×10^?6 M and the optimum pH range of the membrane was 6.0–9.0. The ISE membrane exhibits good selectivity for Rb⁺ over ammonium, alkali metal, and alkaline earth metal ions. Selectivity coefficients for the other metal ions, log K^Pot were ?2.5 for Li⁺, ?2.4 for Na⁺, ?2.0 for H⁺, ?1.0 for K⁺, ?1.2 for Cs⁺, ?1.6 for NH₄⁺, ?4.5 for Mg²⁺, ?5.0 for Ca²⁺,?4.9 for Ba²⁺. The lifetime of the membrane was about one month.     

Spectrophotometric studies of alkali and alkali earth metal ions complexes of mono amino derivative of calix[4]arene

The synthesis and complexive abilities of 5,11,17-tris(tert-butyl)-23 amino-25,26,27,28-tetra-propoxycalix[4]arene towards alkali cations Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺ and alkali earth cations Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ in methanol-chloroform mixture have been evaluated at 25°C, using UV-Vis spectrophotometric techniques. The results showed that the ligand is capable to complex with all the cations by 1: 1 metal to ligand ratios. The selectivity presented considering the calculated formation constants are in the order Li⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Rb⁺ > Cs⁺ and Mg²⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Ba²⁺ with the ligand.