Molecular Design of Calixarene 5. Syntheses and Cation Selectivities of Novel Schiff's Base p‐tert‐Butylcalix[4]arenes

Five novel Schiff's bases p‐tert‐butylcalix4]arenes have been synthesized in high yields by the reaction of 1,3‐distally disubstituted p‐tert‐butylcalix4]arene amine (1) with the corresponding aromatic aldehydes, and their cation binding abilities and selectivities with alkali and heavy metal ions have been evaluated by solvent extraction of aqueous metal picrates to show the highest Ag⁺ extractability for Schiff's base p‐tert‐butylcalix4]arene (6) and the best Na⁺/Li⁺ and Ag⁺/Ti⁺ selectivities for Schiff's base p‐tert‐butylcalix4]arene (4 and 2) over any other calix4]arene derivatives, respectively.