S,S'-bis-cyclo-glycyl-L-hemicystyl-glycyl-glycyl-L-prolyl, a synthetic, bicyclic peptide with cation specificity

Using only amino acids occurring in proteins it should, in principle, be possible to synthetize peptide molecules capable of complexing metal cations. The approach described in this contribution is to build cages of oxygen atoms that could contain A-cations of specific diameter (in a manner similar to nigericin, nonactin, valinomycin, and other antibiotics) by binding together face-to-face and in the correct distance from one another two homodetic cyclic peptide rings. Using a link that may be formed and broken in a reversible manner (for example oxidativeformationon the outside of the cell membrane and reductive cleavage on the inside), one should even be in a position to construct a model for active, energy-coupled transport of cations across the cell membrane. An example of this type of synthetic products is the bicyclic peptide S, S′-bis-cyclo-glycyl-L -hemicystyl-glycyl-glycyl-L -prolyl. This compound, the first to contain two homodetic peptide rings bound together, was prepared by stepwise synthesis from the C-terminal of the S-protected pentapeptide active ester, glycyl-(S-diphenylmethyl)-L -cysteyl-glycyl-glycyl-L -proline-p-nitro-phenyl ester, using active esters of protected amino acids, followed by cyclization of this inter-mediate, cleavage of the diphenylmethyl protecting group, and final oxidation of the thiol group to the disulfide function. EMF.-Measurements on membranes by Simon and Pioda according to the method of Stefanac & Simon [4] revealed cation specificity in the order: K⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺ > Ca⁺⁺. Optical rotatory dispersion shows that there is a conformational transition during complexation. Circular dichroism points to a 75–90° dihedral angle and right-handed helicity of the disulfide bond. On this basis the models shown in Fig. 6 were constructed as hypothetical representations of the potassium complexes with cages of eight or of ten oxygen atoms.     

Gas-Phase studies of valinomycin-alkali metal cation complexes: attachment rates and cation affinities

Reactions of laser-desorbed Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺ with thermally vaporized valinomycin generate metal-ligand complexes in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance trapping cell, proving that complexes can form via gas-phase ion-molecule reactions. Although desorption of intact pre-formed complexes cannot be ruled out, this route appears minor. Relative rate constants for the complexation reactions show strong dependence on the charge densities of the cations. Competition experiments between valinomycin and the synthetic ionophores 18-crown-6 (18C6) and [2.2.2]-cryptand ([2.2.2]) show that valinomycin has a higher intrinsic alkali metal cation affinity than either 18C6 or [2.2.2], in contrast to the complex formation constants observed in methanol, where K+ affinities are in the order [2.2.2] > 18C6 > valinomycin.     

Synthesis,Conformation, and Interactions with Small Molecules of Bis (Cyclic Dipeptides)

Bis (cyclic dipeptides), cyclo and S, S ′-bis(cyclo(hemiCys-Pro)), were synthesized. These bis (cyclic dipeptides) very efficiently formed complexes with Ba²⁺ and Na⁺ owing to intramolecular cooperation of two cyclicdipeptide moieties, the bis-effect. Cyclo stacked sodium 8-anilino-1-naphthalensulfonate in aqueous solution. These properties of complexation were controlled by the nature of the bridge connecting two cyclic dipeptide moieties. The geometry of the complex between S, S′-bis (cyclo (hemiCys-Pro)) and metal ion was investigated with the help of circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Raman spectroscopy.     

The structure of a valinomycin–hexaaquamagnesium trifluoromethanesulfonate compound

Valinomycin is a naturally occurring cyclic dodecadepsipeptide with the formula cyclo‐[d ‐HiVA→l ‐Val →l ‐LA→l ‐Val]₃ (d ‐HiVA is d ‐α‐hydroxyisovaleic acid, Val is valine and LA is lactic acid), which binds a K⁺ ion with high selectively. In the past, several cation‐binding modes have been revealed by X‐ray crystallography. In the K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ complexes, the ester O atoms coordinate the cation with a trigonal antiprismatic geometry, while the six amide groups form intramolecular hydrogen bonds and the network that is formed has a bracelet‐like conformation (Type 1 binding). Type 2 binding is seen with the Na⁺ cation, in which the valinomycin molecule retains the bracelet conformation but the cations are coordinated by only three ester carbonyl groups and are not centrally located. In addition, a picrate counter‐ion and a water molecule is found at the center of the valinomycin bracelet. Type 3 binding is observed with divalent Ba²⁺, in which two cations are incorporated, bridged by two anions, and coordinated by amide carbonyl groups, and there are no intramolecular amide hydrogen bonds. In this paper, we present a new Type 4 cation‐binding mode, observed in valinomycin hexaaquamagnesium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonate) trihydrate, C₅₄H₉₀N₆O₁₈·[Mg(H₂O)₆](CF₃SO₃)₂·3H₂O, in which the valinomycin molecule incorporates a whole hexaaquamagnesium ion, [Mg(H₂O)₆]²⁺, via hydrogen bonding between the amide carbonyl groups and the hydrate water H atoms. In this complex, valinomycin retains the threefold symmetry observed in Type 1 binding, but the amide hydrogen‐bond network is lost; the hexaaquamagnesium cation is hydrogen bonded by six amide carbonyl groups. ¹H NMR titration data is consistent with the 1:1 binding stoichiometry in acetonitrile solution. This new cation‐binding mode of binding a whole hexaaquamagnesium ion by a cyclic polypeptide is likely to have important implications for the study of metal binding with biological models under physiological conditions.     

Higher Structure of Cereulide,an Emetic Toxin from Bacillus cereus,and Special Comparison with Valinomycin,an Antibiotic from Streptomyces fulvissimus

Not to be confused : Cereulide is an emetic toxin produced by Bacillus cereus through an unusual non‐ribosomal peptide synthesis, whereas valinomycin, produced by Streptomyces fulvissimus, is a known antibiotic drug. Cereulide has a greater complexation ability with metal ions than valinomycin and also exhibits a K⁺‐ion‐selective ionophore property at lower concentrations than valinomycin.

     

Interactions of Bis(2,4,4‐trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinate with NdIII and CmIII in a Homogeneous Medium: A Comparative Study of Thermodynamics and Coordination Modes

Complexation of Nd^III and Cm^III with purified Cyanex301 (ammonium bis(2,4,4‐trimethylpentyl)dithiophosphinate, denoted as HL) was studied in 1 % v/v water/ethanol under identical conditions by spectrophotometry and microcalorimetry. For Nd^III, three successive complexes, NdL²⁺, NdL₂⁺, and NdL₃, formed in the solution. In contrast, four complexes, CmL²⁺, CmL₂⁺, CmL₃, and CmL₄^? formed during the titration with Cm. Fluorescence lifetime measurements provided additional insight into the complexation of Cm^III with Cyanex301. The stepwise stability constants for the CmL_j^(3?j)+ (j=1–3) complexes are about one order of magnitude higher than the corresponding NdL_j^(3?j)+ complexes. The enthalpies of complexation are endothermic for both Nd^III and Cm^III, suggesting that the energy required for desolvation exceeds the energy gained from the cation/ligand combination. Specifically, the enthalpy of complexation for CmL²⁺ is 3.5 kJ mol^?1 less endothermic than that of NdL²⁺, implying stronger covalent interaction in CmL²⁺ than NdL²⁺. However, the enthalpies of complexation for CmL₂⁺ and NdL₂⁺ are nearly identical, and the enthalpy of complexation for CmL₃(aq) becomes more endothermic than that for NdL₃(aq). The observations suggest that, in the ethanol/water media, the overall energetics of the Cm^III/Nd^III complexation with Cyanex301 could depend on a number of factors, including the extent of covalency, the degree of desolvation, and the coordination modes.     

Microcalorimetric determination of H 0 , G 0 and S 0 for the interaction of the carrier antibiotics nigericin and monensin with sodium and potassium ions

The thermodynamic parameters ΔH⁰, ΔG⁰ and ΔS⁰ – and thereby the equilibrium constants – for the complexation of the carrier antibiotics nigericin and monensin with sodium and potassium ions in methanol at 25°C have been determined by microcalorimetry. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the interaction between ligands and cations.     

The hydrochloride and hydrobromide salt forms of (S)‐amphetamine

Despite the high profile of amphetamine, there have been relatively few structural studies of its salt forms. The lack of any halide salt forms is surprising as the typical synthetic route for amphetamine initially produces the chloride salt. (S)‐Amphetamine hydrochloride [systematic name: (2S)‐1‐phenylpropan‐2‐aminium chloride], C₉H₁₄N⁺·Cl⁻, has a Z′ = 6 structure with six independent cation–anion pairs. That these are indeed crystallographically independent is supported by different packing orientations of the cations and by the observation of a wide range of cation conformations generated by rotation about the phenyl–CH₂ bond. The supramolecular contacts about the anions also differ, such that both a wide variation in the geometry of the three N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds formed by each chloride anion and differences in C—H...Cl contacts are apparent. (S)‐Amphetamine hydrobromide [systematic name: (2S)‐1‐phenylpropan‐2‐aminium bromide], C₉H₁₄N⁺·Br⁻, is broadly similar to the hydrochloride in terms of cation conformation, the existence of three N—H...X hydrogen‐bond contacts per anion and the overall two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded sheet motif. However, only the chloride structure features organic bilayers and Z′ > 1.     

Diastereomeric differentiation of norbornene amino acid peptides by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A new class of diastereomeric pairs of non‐natural amino acid peptides derived from butyloxycarbonyl (Boc‐)protected cis‐(2S,3R)‐ and trans‐(2S,3S)‐β‐norbornene amino acids including a monomeric pair have been investigated by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry using quadrupole time‐of‐flight (Q‐TOF) and ion‐trap mass spectrometers. The protonated cis‐BocN‐β‐nbaa (2S,3R) (1) (βnbaa = β‐norbornene amino acid) eliminates the Boc group to form [M+H–Boc+H]⁺, whereas an additional ion [M+H–C₄H₈]⁺ is formed from trans‐BocN‐β‐nbaa (2S,3S) (2). Similarly, it is observed that the peptide diastereomers (di‐, tri‐ and tetra‐), with cis‐BocN‐β‐nbaa (2S,3R)‐ at the N‐terminus, initially eliminate the Boc group to form [M+H–Boc+H]⁺ which undergo further fragmentation to give a set of product ions that are different for the peptides with trans‐BocN‐β‐nbaa (2S,3S)‐ at the N‐terminus. Thus the Boc group fragments differently depending on the configuration of the amino acid present at the N‐terminus. It is also observed that the peptide bond cleavage in these peptides is less favoured and most of the product ions are formed due to retro‐Diels‐Alder fragmentation. Interestingly, sodium‐cationized peptide diastereomers mainly yield a series of retro‐Diels‐Alder fragment ions which are different for each diastereomer as they are formed starting from [M+Na–Boc+H]⁺ in peptides with cis‐BocN‐β‐nbaa (2S,3R)‐ at the N‐terminus, and [M+Na–C₄H₈]⁺ in peptides with trans‐BocN‐β‐nbaa (2S,3S)‐ at the N‐terminus. All these results clearly indicate that these diastereomeric pairs of peptides yield characteristic product ions which help distinguish the isomers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes with chiral C2-multitopic ligands: Structural and catalytic properties

Four multitopic ligands, N,N′-bis[(S)-prolyl)phenylenediamine, N,N′-bis{[(S)-pyrrolidin-2-yl]methyl}phenylenediamine, N,N′-bis[(S)-N-benzylprolyl]phenylenediamine, N,N′-bis{[(S)-N-benzyl-pyrrolidin-2-yl]methyl}phenylenediamine, were synthesised and their co-ordination properties with Rh(I) and Ir(I) studied. The complexes were prepared by the reaction of [MCl(cod)]₂ with AgPF₆ and further treatment with the ligand. All ligands form one to one [ML] species with the above metal ions. The structures of these complexes were elucidated by analytical and spectroscopic data (elemental analysis, mass spectroscopy, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR). Complexes show excellent activities and enantioselectivities up to 30% for the hydrogenation of prochiral olefins under mild reaction conditions.     

Studies on the effect of the cation nature on the kinetics of the isotopic exchange reaction between chloride ion and O,O-diphenylphosphorochloridothionate in acetonitrile

Rate constants and activation parameters for the isotopic exchange reactions between (PhO)₂PSCl and M³⁶Cl (M = Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, n-Bu₄N⁺, Et₃HN⁺, EtH₃N⁺, Li⁺) in acetonitrile were measured in order to find the effect of the cation nature onthe kinetics of the reaction. The rate constants measured for a range of concentrations of Et₃HN³⁶Cl, EtH₃N³⁶Cl, and Li³⁶Cl were analyzed using the Acree equation. The equivalent conductance of LiCl in acetonitrile was determined. The nature of the cation has no effect on the mechanism of the reaction. The cation changes only the experimental rate constant proportionally to the dissociation degree of the salt. Smaller values of the rate constant and smaller activation parameters ΔH? and ΔS? for the reaction with Li³⁶Cl indicate the existenceof the intermolecular interaction between lithium ions and O,O-diphenylphosphorochloridothionate.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> adsorption and dehydration behavior of LiNaX,KNaX, CaNaX and CeNaX zeolites

In this study, NaX synthetic zeolite was modified by following the conventional cation exchange method at 70°C. 82, 81, 79 and 48% of sodium were exchanged with Li⁺, K⁺, Ca2⁺ and Ce3⁺, respectively. Thermal analysis data obtained by TG/DSC was used to evaluate the dehydration behavior of the zeolites. The strongest interaction with water and the highest dehydration enthalpy (ΔH) value were found for Li-exchanged form and compared with the other forms. The temperature required for complete dehydration increased with decreasing cation size (cation size: K⁺>Ce³⁺>Ca2⁺>Na⁺>Li⁺). CO₂ adsorption at 5 and 25°C was also studied and the virial model equation was used to analyze the experimental data to calculate the Henry’s law constant, K _o and isosteric heat of adsorption at zero loading Q _st. K _o values decreased with increasing temperature and the highest Qst was obtained for K rich zeolite. It was observed that both dehydration and CO₂ adsorption properties are related to cation introduced into zeolite structure.     

Ion Complexation Properties of Calix[6]Arene Derivatives: I. 1,4-Calix[6]Crown-4 Derivatives

Abstract

A series of 1,4-p-tert-butyl-calix[6]crown-4 tetraesters, tetraamides, tetraacids with defined conformation have been synthesized, and their complexation properties towards metal ions and alkyl ammonium ions were investigated systematically. It was found that 1,4-p-tert-butyl-calix[6]crown-4 tetraethylester (3a) and 1,4-p-tert-butyl-calix[6]benzocrown-4 tetramethyl-ester (4b) show high selectivity towards Na⁺, Li⁺, respectively and all of them exhibit high complexation abilities towards Et₂NH₂ ⁺ cation.     

Photochemical substitution of benzene in the iron cyclohexadienyl complex [(η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>7</Subscript>)Fe(η-C<Subscript>6</Subscript>H<Subscript>6</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

The visible light irradiation of the [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(η-C₆H₆)]⁺ cation (1) in acetonitrile resulted in the substitution of the benzene ligand to form the labile acetonitrile species [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(MeCN)₃]⁺ (2). The reaction of 1 with Bu^tNC in MeCN produced the stable isonitrile complex [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(Bu^tNC)₃]⁺ (3). The photochemical reaction of cation 1 with pentaphosphaferrocene Cp*Fe(η-cyclo-P₅) afforded the triple-decker cation with the bridging pentaphospholyl ligand, [(η⁵-C₆H₇)Fe(μ-η:η-cyclo-P₅)FeCp*]⁺ (4). The latter complex was also synthesized by the reaction of cation 2 with Cp*Fe(η-cyclo-P₅). The structure of the complex [3]PF₆ was established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2088–2091, November, 2007.     

Enthalpy and Entropy of Formation of Alkali and Alkaline-Earth Macrobicyclic Cryptate Complexes [1]

The enthalpies and entropies of complexation of alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations by several macrobicyclic ligands have been obtained from calorimetric measurements and from the previously determined stability constants [2]. Both enthalpy and entropy changes play an important role in the stability and selectivity of the complexes. Particularly noteworthy are the large enthalpies and the negative entropies of complexation obtained for the alkali cation complexes (Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ cryptates). The Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺ as well as [Li⁺ ? 2.1.1]

1 For use of the symbols see [2].

and [Na⁺ ? 2.2.1] cryptates are of the enthalpy dominant type with also a favourable entropy change. The Ca²⁺ and [Li⁺ ? 2.2.1] cryptates are entirely entropy stabilized with about zero heat of reaction. The high stability of the macrobicyclic complexes as compared to the macromonocylcic ones, the cryptate effect, is of enthalpic origin. The enthalpies of complexation display selectivity peaks, as do the stabilities, whereas the entropy changes do not. The high M²⁺/M⁺ selectivities found in terms of free energy, may be reversed when enthalpy is considered in view of the very different role played by the entropy term for M²⁺ and M⁺ cations. The enthalpies and entropies of ligation show that whereas the cryptate anions are similar in terms of entropy irrespective of which cation is included, the ligands, despite being more rigid than the hydration shell, are nevertheless able to adjust to some extent to the cation. This conclusion agrees with published X-rays data. The origin of the enthalpies and entropies of complexation is discussed in terms of structural features of the ligands and of solvation effects.     

Purification, Characterization, and Specificity Determination of a New Serine Protease Secreted by Penicillium waksmanii

The purpose of this work was to purify a protease from Penicillium waksmanii and to determine its biochemical characteristics and specificity. The extracellular protease isolated that was produced by P. waksmanii is a serine protease that is essential for the reproduction and growth of the fungus. The protease isolated showed 32 kDa, and has optimal activity at pH 8.0 and 35 °C towards the substrate Abz-KLRSSKQ-EDDnp. The protease is active in the presence of CaCl₂, KCl, and BaCl, and partially inhibited by CuCl₂, CoCl₂ and totally inhibited by AlCl₃ and LiCl. In the presence of 1 M urea, the protease remains 50 % active. The activity of the protease increases 60 % when it is exposed to 0.4 % nonionic surfactant-Triton X-100 and loses 10 % activity in the presence of 0.4 % Tween-80. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis, the protease showed the most specificity for the peptide Abz-KIRSSKQ-EDDnp with k _cat/K _m of 10,666 mM^?1?s^?1, followed by the peptide Abz-GLRSSKQ-EDDnp with a k _cat/K _m of 7,500 mM^?1?s^?1. Basic and acidic side chain-containing amino acids performed best at subsite S₁. Subsites S₂, S₃, S^′ ₂, and S^′ ₁, S^′ ₃ showed a preference for binding for amino acids with hydrophobic and basic amino acid side chain, respectively. High values of k _cat/K _m were observed for the subsites S₂, S₃, and S^′ _2. The sequence of the N-terminus (ANVVQSNVPSWGLARLSSKKTGTTDYTYD) showed high similarity to the fungi Penicillium citrinum and Penicillium chrysogenum, with 89 % of identity at the amino acid level.     

Thermodynamic behavior of complexation process between dibenzo-18-crown-6 and K+, Ag+, NH 4 + , and Hg2+ cations in ethylacetate-dimethylformamide binary media

The complexation reactions between K⁺, Ag⁺, NH₄⁺, and Hg²⁺ cations and the macrocyclic ligand, dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6), were studied in ethylacetate (EtOAc)-dimethylformamide (DMF) binary mixtures at different temperatures using the conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stochiometry of all the complexes is 1:1. A non-linear behavior was observed for the variation of log K _f of the complexes versus the composition of binary mixed solvents, which was discussed in terms of heteroselective solvation and solvent-solvent interactions in binary solutions. It was found that the stability order of the complexes changes with changing the composition of the mixed solvents. The sequence of stabilities for the K⁺, Ag⁺, NH₄⁺, and Hg²⁺ complexes with DB18C6 in EtOAc-DMF binary solutions (mol. % DMF 25.0) and (mol. % DMF 50.0) at 25°C is (DB18C6-Ag)⁺ > (DB18C6-K)⁺ > (DB18C6-Hg)²⁺ > (DB18C6-NH₄)⁺, but in the cases of pure DMF and a binary solution of EtOAc-DMF (mol. % DMF 75.0) is (DB18C6-K)⁺ > (DB18C6-Hg)²⁺ > (DB18C6-Ag)⁺ ≈ (DB18C6-NH₄)⁺. The values of thermodynamic quantities (ΔH _c ^o, ΔS _c ^o) for these complexation reactions have been determined from the temperature dependence of the stability constants, and the results show that the thermodynamics of the complexation reactions is affected by the nature and composition of the mixed solvents and, in all cases, positive values of ΔS _c ^o characterize the formation of these complexes. In addition, the experimental results show that the values of entropies for the complexation reactions between K⁺, Ag⁺, NH₄⁺, and Hg²⁺ cations and DB18C6 in EtOAc-DMF binary solutions do not change monotonically with the solvent composition. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Density functional theory study of calix[4]arene‐N‐azacrown‐5, calix[4]arene‐N‐phenyl‐azacrown‐5, and their complexes with alkali‐metal cations: Na+, K+, and Rb+

Theoretical studies of 1,3‐alternate‐25,27‐bis(1‐methoxyethyl)calix[4]arene‐azacrown‐5 ( L₁ ), 1,3‐alternate‐25,27‐bis(1‐methoxyethyl)calix[4]arene‐N‐phenyl‐azacrown‐5 ( L₂ ), and the corresponding complexes M⁺/ L of L₁ and L₂ with the alkali‐metal cations: Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺ have been performed using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6‐31G* level. The optimized geometric structures obtained from DFT calculations are used to perform natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The two main types of driving force metal–ligand and cation–π interactions are investigated. The results indicate that intermolecular electrostatic interactions are dominant and the electron‐donating oxygen offer lone pair electrons to the contacting RY* (1‐center Rydberg) or LP* (1‐center valence antibond lone pair) orbitals of M⁺ (Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺). What's more, the cation–π interactions between the metal ion and π‐orbitals of the two rotated benzene rings play a minor role. For all the structures, the most pronounced changes in geometric parameters upon interaction are observed in the calix[4]arene molecule. In addition, an extra pendant phenyl group attached to nitrogen can promote metal complexation by 3D encapsulation greatly. In addition, the enthalpies of complexation reaction and hydrated cation exchange reaction had been studied by the calculated thermodynamic data. The calculated results of hydrated cation exchange reaction are in a good agreement with the experimental data for the complexes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010     

Capillary affinity electrophoresis and ab initio calculation studies of valinomycin complexation with Na+ ion

In a combined experimental and theoretical approach, the interactions of valinomycin (Val), macrocyclic depsipeptide antibiotic ionophore, with sodium cation Na⁺ have been investigated. The strength of the Val–Na⁺ complex was evaluated experimentally by means of capillary affinity electrophoresis. From the dependence of valinomycin effective electrophoretic mobility on the sodium ion concentration in the BGE (methanolic solution of 20 mM chloroacetic acid, 10 mM Tris, 0–40 mM NaCl), the apparent binding (stability) constant (K_b) of the Val–Na⁺ complex in methanol was evaluated as log K_b = 1.71 ± 0.16. Besides, using quantum mechanical density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the most probable structures of the nonhydrated Val–Na⁺ as well as hydrated Val–Na⁺·H₂O complex species were proposed. Compared to Val–Na⁺, the optimized structure of Val–Na⁺·H₂O complex appears to be more realistic as follows from the substantially higher binding energy (118.4 kcal/mol) of the hydrated complex than that of the nonhydrated complex (102.8 kcal/mol). In the hydrated complex, the central Na⁺ cation is bound by strong bonds to one oxygen atom of the respective water molecule and to four oxygens of the corresponding C=O groups of the parent valinomycin ligand.     

Unexplored metallic cation effect in the acidity constants of p-t-butylthiacalix[4]arene,p-t-butylcalix[4]arene and p-t-butylcalix[6]arene in aqueous-organic media

The influence of the metallic cation of the base (Li⁺, Na⁺ or K⁺) was determined on the acid–base constants of p-t-butylthiacalix[4]arene (TC4), p-t-butylcalix[4]arene (CA4) and p-t-butylcalix[6]arene (CA6) in ethanol/water in an large interval of pH values by potentiometry and spectrophotometry. The pK_a values determined by both methods correlate very well and these are characteristic for each macrocycle with influence of the cation of the base without a straight evidence of an effect by the size of the metallic cation. In the case of TC4, pK_a1 and pK_a2 were lower to Li⁺ and Na⁺ than with K⁺. For CA4, an effect of K⁺ on the pK_a2 with respect to Li⁺ was observed. A very different behaviour was observed for CA6 with Li⁺ and K⁺ showing a lower pK_a2 and a higher pK_a3 than with Na⁺. These effects were interpreted on the basis of the interaction/complexation of each cation with each macrocycle.