Sorbents based on calix[4]arenes for extraction of technetium(vii) from acidic and alkaline media

Sorption of Tc^VII from solutions of various compositions with new sorbents prepared by the noncovalent immobilization of (thia)calix[4]arenes on the Amberlite XAD-7™ support was studied. The sorbents studied efficiently extract technetium(vii) from both acidic and alkaline media. The sorption capacity of the sorbent with thiacalix[4]arene groups is superior to that of the sorbents with calix[4]arene groups and several times higher than that of the sorbents previously proposed for the sorption of Tc^VII. Technetium(vii) is sorbed by this sorbent as 1: 1 and 1: 2 thiacalix[4]arene—NH₄TcO₄ and 1: 1 and 1: 2 thiacalix[4]arene—NaTcO₄ complexes.     

A quest for triplet silylenes XHSi3 at ab initio and DFT levels (X = H, F, Cl and Br)

Four ground state triplet silylenes are found among 30 possible silylenic XHSi₃ structures (X = H, F, Cl and Br), at seven ab initio and DFT levels including: B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗, HF/6-311++G^∗∗, MP3/6-311G^∗, MP2/6-311+G^∗∗, MP4(SDTQ)/6-311++G^∗∗, QCISD(T)/6-311++G^∗∗ and CCSD(T)/6-311++G^∗∗. The latter six methods indicate that the triplet states of 3-flouro-1,2,3-trisilapropadienylidene, 1-chloro-1,2,3-trisilapropargylene and 3-chloro-1,2,3-trisilapropargylene are energy minima. These triplets appear more stable than their corresponding singlet states which cannot even exist for showing negative force constants. Also, triplet state of 1-flouro-1,2,3-trisilapropargylene is possibly accessible for being an energy minimum, since its corresponding singlet state is not a real isomer. Some discrepancies are observed between energetic and/or structural results of DFT vs. ab initio data.     

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.     

Anion receptors based on ureido-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes and calix[4]arenes

The regioselective nitration of 25,27-dipropoxythiacalix[4]arene was carried out as a key step in the synthesis of thiacalix[4]arene derivative bearing two arylureido functions on the upper rim. The preorganisation of ureido units using the thiacalix[4]arene/calix[4]arene moieties as a molecular scaffold gave novel anion receptors. These compounds, albeit based on hydrogen bonding interactions, show good complexation ability even in highly HB-competitive solvent, such as DMSO. Direct comparison of otherwise identical structures 6a and 7a revealed remarkable dominance of the thiacalix[4]arene derivative over its classical analogue in anion binding.     

Synthesis and Properties of a Series of Novel Calix[6]arene Diazo Derivatives

In this study, seven new compounds p-(4-butyl-phenylazo)calix[6]arene(1), p-(4-(phenylazo)phenylazo)calix[6]arene (2),p-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)calix[6]arene (3),p-{4-[N-(thiazol-2-yl)sulfamoyl]phenylazo\}calix[6]arene(4), p-(4-acetamidophenylazo)calix[6]arene (5),p-(thiazol-2-ylazo)calix[6]arene (6) andp-(2-sulfanylphenylazo)calix[6]arene (7) have been synthesizedfrom calix[6]arene by diazo coupling with the corresponding aromaticamines. UV-Vis, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data have been used to elucidate the structures of the compounds elemental analyses     

Synergistic extraction of cesium,strontium, and europium with adamantylated thiacalix[4]arenes in the presence of chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide

Synergistic extraction of long-lived fission products ¹³⁷Cs⁺, ⁸⁵Sr²⁺, and ¹⁵²Eu³⁺ from dilute HNO3 into dichloroethane with ligands derived from p-(1-adamantyl)thiacalix[4]arene in mixtures with chlorinated cobalt dicarbollide was studied. An extraordinary synergistic effect is observed in extraction of europium with p-(1-adamantyl)thiacalix[4]arene tetraacetate derivative. Amides of p-(1-adamantyl)thiacalix-[4]arene tetracarboxylic acid are selective toward europium, although their extraction ability toward the examined ions is lower than that of the classical extractant, p-(1-adamantyl)calix[4]arene tetracarboxylic acid diethylamide.     

(1+1) or (2+2) Coupling for bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzenes with calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene

As bifunctional reagents, bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzenes can react with p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene or p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene to afford intramolecularly bridged (1+1) or intermolecularly bridged (2+2) products. It was found that the bridging pattern strongly depended on the structure of bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzene and the kind of calixarene. For the ortho-isomer of bis(tosyloxyethoxy)benzene, intramolecularly bridged calix[4]arene and thiacalix[4]arene were the main products. For the para-isomer, the bridging reaction was in a (2+2) fashion. As for the meta-isomer, double thiacalix[4]arene and intramolecularly bridged calix[4]crown were synthesized.     

A DFT study on pyridine-derived N-heterocyclic carbenes

To appreciate the chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), eight carbenic tautomers of pyridine (azacyclohexadienylidenes) are studied at B3LYP/AUG-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/6-31+G^∗ and B3LYP/6-311++G^∗∗//B3LYP/6-31+G^∗ levels of theory. Various thermodynamic parameters are calculated for these minima, along with a kinetic focus on carbene-pyridine tautomerization. Appropriate isodesmic reactions show stabilization energies of 2-azacyclohexa-3,5-dienylidene (1) and 4-azacyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene (6) as 119.4 and 104.1 kcal/mol, rather close to that of the synthesized 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (129.2 kcal/mol). Three different mechanisms are suggested for the tautomerizations including: [1,2]-H shift, [1,4]-H shift, and three sequential [1,2]-H shifts. The calculated energy barrier for [1,2]-H shift of 1 is 44.6 kcal/mol, while the first [1,2]-H shift for the proposed sequential mechanism of 6 requires 65.1 kcal/mol. Three preliminary minimum templates are introduced, which may possess the potential of synthetic consideration: 2,6-di(X)-3,5-dichloro-4-azacyclohexa-2,5-dienylidene for X=Mes, t-Bu, and Ad.     

Electrochemical properties of outer-sphere associates of bipyridyl and sepulchrate metal complexes with (thia)calix[4]arenes

The electrochemical one-electron reduction (oxidation) of bipyridyl metal complexes ([Co(bipy)₃]³⁺, [Cr(bipy)₃]³⁺, [Fe(bipy)₃]²⁺, [Ru(bipy)₃]²⁺ (as well as Co(III) sepulcrate)) with water-soluble (thia)calix[4]arenes has been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that [M(bipy)₃]^3+/2+ bind to (thia)calix[4]arenes via sulfonate groups of the upper rim. Oxidized forms bind stronger than reduced ones leading to reduction (oxidation) of half-wave cathodic shift. The effect of predominant stabilization of oxidized forms of metal complexes for carboxylated calix[4]arene is stronger than for thiacalix[4]arene (ΔΔG₀?=???7.8?÷???12.5 and ??3.7 kJ/mol, respectively). The redox-switchable outer-sphere binding of Co(III) sepulchrate via lower rim of carboxylated calix[4]arene has been revealed using cyclic voltammetry. The binding constants of outer-sphere associates based on calix[4]arenes and unstable metal complexes ([Co(sep)]²⁺, [Ru(bipy)₃]³⁺, [Co(bipy)₃]²⁺) have been calculated for the first time using ¹H NMR titration and cyclic voltammetry data.

Graphical abstract

Open image in new window

     

A quantum chemical study of tricyclo[3.2.0.0]heptane: a new hypothetical molecule with unusual spatial structure. Similarities and differences with syn- and anti-tricyclo[3.2.0.0]heptanes

HF and MP2 calculations with the 6-31G^∗∗ and 6-311G^∗∗ basis sets for the titled molecules and those at MP2/cc-pVTZ level for the hypothetical tricyclo[3.2.0.0^1,3]heptane indicate that the latter molecule should have a carbon atom with highly unusual configuration strongly departing from the tetrahedral one. Both analysis of vibrational frequencies of this molecules and comparison of its energy with those of known isomeric syn- and anti- tricyclo[3.2.0.0^2,4]heptanes as well as the DFT analysis of its plausible decomposition routes performed at the DFT level indicate that it could be a plausible synthetic target.     

Synthesis and Properties of New Thiacalixarene Derivatives with Palladium Ion

Three new thiacalix[4]arene derivatives, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-di(2-hydroxyethoxy)-26,28-dihydroxythiacalix-{}[4]arene (2), 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-25, 26,27,28-tetrakis[(methylcarboxyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene (3),5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-1-propanoxy)thiacalix[4]arene (4), were synthesized for the first time. The coordination properties of thiacalix[4]arene(1) and its derivatives (2 and 4) were investigated by detecting the interactions betweenthese compounds and two palladium complexes, cis-[Pd(en)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ and cis-[Pd(dtco-3-OH)(H₂O)₂]²⁺, by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) technique.     

含噻二唑官能基的对叔丁基硫桥杯[4]芳烃衍生物的合成及结构

以对叔丁基硫桥杯[4]芳烃(1)为原料, 在碳酸钾存在下与碘甲烷反应, 生成1,3-二取代桥杯[4]芳烃(2), 其分别与1,2-二溴乙烷, 1,3-二溴丙烷在碳酸钾的存在下进行烷基化反应, 生成硫桥杯[4]芳烃衍生物3和4. 在氢氧化钠存在下,其与过量的含不同官能团的2-巯基-1,3,4-噻二唑反应, 生成下缘含1,3,4-噻二唑基的硫桥杯[4]芳烃衍生物5a, 5b, 6a和6b, 并通过了¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, MS和元素分析的确证. 同时, X射线分析确定了硫桥杯[4]芳烃3和5a的晶体结构.     

Synthesis of novel p-tert-butyl-calix[4]arene derivatives and their cation binding ability: chromogenic effect upon side arms binding

A series of novel double-armed calix[4]arene derivatives, i.e. 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl -25,27-bis[2-[(2-hydroxy-5-(4-nitroazo)benzylidene)amino]ethoxy]-26,28-dihydroxy-calix[4]-arene (4), 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis[2-[(2-hydroxy-5-(2-nitroazo)benzylidene) amino]ethoxy]-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (5), 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-bis[2-[(2-hydroxy-5-(4-chloroazo)benzylidene)amino]ethoxy]-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (6), have been synthesized as an selective chromoionophore for Na⁺. The complexation behavior of ligands 4-6 with alkali metal ions Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺and Cs⁺ has been evaluated by using UV-Vis spectrometry in CH₃CN-H₂O (99:1/V:V) solution at 25°C. The UV-Vis spectra show that the complexation of 4-6 with Na⁺exhibits obvious bathochromic shifts (λ_max 379→480 nm) and there is a unique color change in the solution from yellow to red upon complexation. The binding constants for Na⁺ are higher than that of other alkali metal ions, giving the highest cation selectivity up to 7 for Na⁺/K⁺. The binding ability and photophysical behavior of alkali cations by calix[4]arene derivatives 4-6 are discussed from the point of view of substituted effects at the lower rim of parent calix[4]arene and size-fit concept between host calix[4]arenes and guest cations.     

Synthesis of novel chiral Schiff base and amino alcohol derivatives of calix[4]arene and chiral recognition properties

In the present study, the synthesis and liquid phase extraction properties towards some amino acid methylesters and amino alcohols of Schiff base and amino alcohol substituted calix[4]arene are reported. The Schiff base substituted calix[4]arene 5 has been synthesized via condensation reaction involving 5,17-diformyl-11,23-di-tert-butyl-25,27-di[3-(4-formylphenoxy)propoxy]-26,28 dihydroxycalix[4]arene 4 and (R)-(?)-2-phenylglycine methyl ester in CHCl₃:MeOH. To give the amino alcohol substituted calix[4]arene 6, the synthesized chiral compound 5 was reduced by LiAlH₄. The new chiral Schiff base and amino alcohol derivatives of calix[4]arene have been characterized by a combination of FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FAB-MS and elemental analysis. Also, the extraction behaviors of 5 and 6 towards some selected amino acid methylesters and amino alcohols have been studied by liquid–liquid extraction.     

Ab initio and density functional studies of cooperative hydrogen bonding in calix[4]-and calix[6]arenes

The cone conformation of C ₄ symmetry is shown by the Hartree-Fock method (3-21G basis) to be the predominant conformer of calix[4]arene; the compressed cone of C ₂ symmetry is the major conformer of calix[6]arene. Using quantum chemical methods we calculated hydrogen bond cleavage energies for calix[4]-(ab initio and density functional methods) and calix[6]arene (ab initio), and also for the complex of calix[4]arene with carbon disulfide. These energies along with structural data point to the cooperative effect of hydrogen bonds. The results of these studies provided an explanation to the greater conformational lability of calix[6]arene compared with calix[4]arene molecules. It is also predicted that the nucleophilic substitution reaction involving calix[6]arene in the presence of weak bases and in aprotic solvents, as well as in the gas phase, will occur via diastereomeric transition states.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding effect on metal ion complexation of homooxacalix[4]arene bearing tetraamides

N,N-Dipentylamido homooxacalix[4]arene (3) in the C-1,2-alternate conformation provided Pb²⁺ ion selectivity over other metal cations. N-Monopentylamido homooxacalix[4]arene in C-1,2-alternate conformation has an intramolecular hydrogen bonding, causing decrease of the metal ion complex ability.     

Stereochemical control of calixarenes useful as rigid and conformationally diversiform platforms for molecular design

Stereochemical problems and related functions of calix[4]arenes, calix[6]arenes and their chiral derivatives have been reviewed. In p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (1H₄) and its mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-O-alkyl derivatives (1H₃R, 1H₂R₂,1HR₃, and 1R₄, respectively), 23 different homologues can exist (including 1H₄). We found that the OH group in the unmodified phenol unit is permeable through the calix[4]arene ring. Thus, several conformational isomers become equivalent after the ‘oxygen-through-the-annulus’ rotation of the OH group and the number of possible homologues is reduced to 13 (including 1H₃). We report in this paper the syntheses of all of these possible conformational isomers using a protection-deprotection method with a benzyl group and metal template effects. On the other hand, all possible chiral isomers that can be derived from calix[4]arene by modification of the OH groups have been systematically classified. Molecular asymmetry can be generated not only by different substituents but also by conformational isomerism. The numbers of chiral isomers are 17 for tetra-O-substituted calix[4]arenes, 9 for tri-O-substituted calix[4]arenes, 3 for di-O-substituted calix[4]arenes, and 0 for mono-O-substituted calix[4]arenes. Chiral calix[4]arenes can also be designed by the introduction of a substituent into the m-position of a phenol unit or by the use of a dissymmetric ‘stapling reaction’ in proximal phenol units. In p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene, the conformational behaviour is totally different from that in p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene. A large degree of conformational freedom remains in the framework, and both ‘oxygen-through-the-annulus rotation’ and ‘para-substituent-through-the-annulus rotation’ can take place. However, when metal cations are bound to calix[6]aryl esters, the conformation is changed to a cone type. Bridging and capping are powerful methods to immobilize the conformation of calix[6]arenes. In addition, definitive evidence for ring immobilization was obtained from the absence of racemization in the chiral calix[6]arene. A successful example of chiral recognition for α-amino acid derivatives was achieved by using chiral homooxacalix[3]arene which has ‘pseudo C₂ symmetry’. These examples indicate that calixarenes serve as rigid and conformationally diversiform platforms for the design of novel functional supramolecules.     

Calixarene-based metalloporphyrins: molecular tweezers for complexation of DABCO

We investigated the formation of host-guest complexes between zinc porphyrins covalently attached to calixarenes via amidic bonds and a small bidentate ligand bearing two nitrogen atoms. Depending upon the calixarene structure (S vs CH₂ bridges), the ligand 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) is complexed by metalloporphyrin units by two different ways. While the thiacalix[4]arene prefers an intramolecularly closed cavity with a binding constant of (1.0±0.1)×10⁷ M⁻¹ in CHCl₃ at 294 K (stoichiometry 1:1), the classical calix[4]arene forms a complex by ligation of both porphyrin units separately (stoichiometry 2:1). The differences observed can be rationalized in terms of cavity size and the preorganization due to intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the calixarene lower rim.     

Metal ion shuttling mechanism through thiacalix[4]crown: a computational study

The first computational study on the alkali metal ion shuttling mechanism through thiacalix[4]biscrown-5 has been performed using density functional theory (MPWB1K/6-31G(d)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)). The activation free energy for K⁺ ion shuttling through the calix tube of thiacalix[4]biscrown-5 is computed to be 12.7 kcal/mol which is in good agreement with the experimental value. Throughout the shuttling process, K⁺ ion maintains the maximum electrostatic interactions with ether oxygens of crown rings, which contributes to lower the activation barrier of the shuttling process.