Synthesis and structures of an unusual germanium(II) calix[4]arene complex and the first germanium(II) calix[8]arene complex and their reactivity with diiron nonacarbonyl

The protonolysis reaction of the germanium(II) amide Ge[N(SiMe3)2]2 with calix[4]arene and calix[8]arene furnishes the two germanium(II) calixarene complexes {calix[4]}Ge2 and {calix[8]}Ge4, respectively, which have been crystallographically characterized. The calix[4]arene complex contains a Ge2O2 rhombus at the center of the molecule and is one of the only four germanium(II) calix[4]arenes that have been structurally characterized. The calix[8]arene species is the first reported germanium calix[8]arene complex, and it exhibits an overall bowl-shaped structure which contains two Ge2O2 fragments. The latter complex reacts with Fe2(CO)9 to yield an octairon compound, which has also been structurally characterized and contains four GeFe2 triangles arranged around the macrocyclic ring. The germanium(II) centers are oxidized to germanium(IV) in this process, with concomitant reduction of the neutral diiron species to Fe2(CO)(8)2- anions.     

Novel fluorescent cyanide-selective chemosensor based on a functionalised pillar[5]arene copper(II) complex

As a novel macrocyclic host, pillar[5]arene can selectively recognise guest molecules in organic solvents. In this study, a fluorescent chemosensor composed of a functionalised-pillar[5]arene and Cu²⁺ metal complex (PN–Cu), which shows good selectivity for CN^? anions, has been designed and synthesised. Complexation between PN–Cu and anions has been probed by means of various fluorescence-based methods. PN–Cu, as a turn-on fluorescence chemosensor showed high selectivity towards CN^? ions in comparison to other anions, and its detection limit for CN^? was calculated as 9.03 × 10^?7 M. The PN–Cu sensor can serve as a recyclable component in sensing materials. Moreover, the interaction between the singly functionalised pillar[5]arene and Cu²⁺ has been probed through various tests. Based on the remarkable selectivity of the chemosensor PN–Cu, we propose that it might be used as a potential material for CN^? recognition.     

Pyrene excimer-based calix[4]arene FRET chemosensor for mercury(II)

A novel calix[4]arene derivative locked in the 1,3-alternate conformation (2) bearing two pyrene and rhodamine fluorophores was synthesized as a selective sensor for the Hg(2+) ion. The sensoring is based on FRET from pyrene excimer emissions to ring-opened rhodamine absorption upon complexation of the Hg(2+) ion. Addition of Hg(2+) to a mixed solution of 2 gave significantly enhanced fluorescence at ～576 nm via FRET with excitation at 343 nm. We also found that the pyrene excimer emissions formed by the intramolecular π-π interactions are more effective in obtaining strong FRET bands than those by intermolecular π-π interactions.     

Synthesis of a tetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene tetraamide and the crystal structure of its lead ion complex

The 1,4-alternate tetrahomodioxacalix[4]arene tetraamide 4 with four p-phenyl groups on its upper rim was synthesized. In two-phase metal picrate extraction, 4 exhibited Pb2+ selectivity with formation of a 1:1 complex in chloroform. In the solid-state structure of the 4*Pb(Pic)2 complex, Pb2+ is bound by the carbonyl oxygens of two adjacent amide groups and an aryl-alkyl ether oxygen atom of one of these amide-containing substituents. The crystal structure and 1H NMR spectrum of the 4*Pb2+ complex reveals pi-metal ion complexation of one aromatic ring in the ligand with Pb2+.     

Synthesis of diverse N,O-bridged calix[1]arene[4]pyridine-C(60) dyads and triads and formation of intramolecular self-inclusion complexes

Starting from both the bridging nitrogen atom-functionalized and the upper rim-functionalized N,O-bridged calix[1]arene[4]pyridine reactants, different types of heteracalixaromatics-C(60) dyads and triads of varied spacers were expediently synthesized using mainly the click reaction as the key step. By means of various spectroscopic methods, the heteracalixaromatics-C(60) dyads and triads obtained have been shown to form intramolecular self-inclusion complexes rather than oligomers or polymers in solution because of a flexible spacer in between the heteracalixaromatic ring and C(60) moiety. The current study, coupled with previous investigations, would provide the guideline for the construction of supramolecular fullerene motifs based on molecular design of the dyads and triads.     

Pd(II) and Au(I) chloride complexes with tetrakis(butylthiomethyl)calix[4]arene: Synthesis and crystal structures

Two novel complexes, (AuCl)₄L³(I) and (PdCl₂)₂L³(II) (L³ is calix[4]arene-thioether), were synthesized and their structures were determined. In complex I, one thioether group of molecule L³ is coordinated to every Au atom. In complex II, the bidentate coordination of L³ to the Pd atoms is observed; two thioether groups are in the trans-positions in the Pd square surrounding. Both complexes have the layered crystal lattices. In the Au complex, the layers are more stable due to the short contacts Au-Au (3.19–3.23 Å).     

Synthesis of a novel copper(II) complex and its crystal structure

One novel chiral copper(II) complex was successfully synthesized from the reaction of chiral 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione ligand with CuCl₂ in dichloromethane in the presence of Et₃N and DMAP at room temperature. Its unique crystal structure was unambiguously disclosed by X-ray analysis. The crystal is tetragonal, space group I4(1), space group a=15.0875(11), b=15.0875(11), c=19.362(3) Å, =90, β=90, γ=90°, V=4407.4(8) ų, Z=8, ρ_calc=1.639 mg cm⁻³.     

Calix[4]bis(thiacrown): assembly of an endocyclic disilver(I) complex and exocyclic 3D copper(I) coordination polymers

Calix[4]bis(thiacrown-5) (L) with 1,3-alternating conformation was employed as a strong dinucleating ligand for the soft metal ions AgI and CuI. The reaction of L with AgPF6 afforded a discrete endo-coordinated disilver(I) complex 1, [Ag2L](PF6)2. In contrast, mixed products (2a + 2b) consisting of 3D networks were obtained from the reaction of L and CuI; 2b linked with a Cu4I4 cubane unit was shown to generate photoluminescence, while 2a linked with a Cu2I2 rhomboid unit does not.     

Reorientational dynamics of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene and of its La(III) complex in water

The reorientational dynamics of p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene and of its La(III) complex in deuterated water were studied by 1H NMR longitudinal relaxation rates. It is shown that the relaxation is purely dipolar in the non-extreme narrowing regime. The distance between the geminal protons could be determined from the NMR data, giving good agreement with the values generally used in correlation time calculations. The correlation times show an Arrhenius behaviour in good agreement with previously reported data from 13C measurements for a similar uncomplexed calixarene. The Arrhenius energies of activation are identical for the uncomplexed and the complexed calixarenes, suggesting a reorientational motion strongly dependent on the structure of the water cage around the complex. This is also in agreement with a complexation of the La(III) cation in the second sphere of solvation of the sulfonate groups, as shown by molecular dynamics simulations.     

Calix[4]arene based molecular probe for sensing copper ions

A novel calix[4]arene based molecular probe for metal ions has been designed, synthesized and evaluated. Studies on its binding with different metal ions reveal a noticeable naked eye color change, bathochromic shift in absorption spectrum and remarkable enhancement in fluorescence emission in the presence of Cu²⁺ only. The role of calix[4]arene scaffold for selective recognition of Cu²⁺ has been demonstrated by repeat evaluation and analysis of an appropriate reference molecule. A rational explanation for fluorescence enhancement in 3 on interaction with copper has been suggested.     

A new packing motif for para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene: the solid state structure of the para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene D-arginine complex

The solid-state structure of the complex of para-sulfonatocalix[4]arene with d-arginine, contains a water channel diagonal to a zigzag bilayer of the host, within the bilayer six crystallographically independent molecules of arginine are present, four being included in the calix cavities.     

Luminescent ruthenium(II) bipyridine-calix[4]arene complexes as receptors for lanthanide cations

The synthesis and photophysical properties of novel luminescent ruthenium(II) bipyridyl complexes containing one, two, or six lower rim acid-amide-modified calix[4]arene moieties covalently linked to the bipyridine groups are reported which are designed to coordinate and sense luminescent lanthanide ions. All the Ru-calixarene complexes synthesized in this work are able to coordinate Nd(3+), Eu(3+), and Tb(3+) ions with formation of adducts of variable stoichiometry. The absorbance changes allow the evaluation of association constants whose magnitudes depend on the nature of the complexes as well as on the nature of the lanthanide cation. Lanthanide cation complex formation affects the ruthenium luminescence which is strongly quenched by Nd(3+) ion, moderately quenched by the Eu(3+) ion, and poorly or moderately increased by the Tb(3+) ion. In the case of Nd(3+), the excitation spectra show that (i) the quenching of the Ru luminescence occurs via energy transfer and (ii) the electronic energy of the excited calixarene is not transferred to the Ru(bpy)(3) but to the neodymium cation. In the case of Tb(3+), the adduct's formation leads to an increase of the emission intensities and lifetimes. The reason for this behavior was ascribed to the electric field created around the Ru calix[4]arene complexes by the Tb(3+) ions by comparison with the Gd(3+) ion, which behaves identically and can affect ruthenium luminescence only by its charge. However, especially for compounds 1 and 3, it cannot be excluded that some contribution comes from the decrease of vibrational motions (and nonradiative processes) due to the rigidification of the structure upon Tb(3+) complexation. In the case of Eu(3+), compounds 1, 2, and 4 were quenched by the lanthanide addition but the quenching of the ruthenium luminescence is not accompanied by europium-sensitized emission which suggests that an electron-transfer mechanism is responsible for the quenching. On the contrary, compound 3 exhibits enhanced emission upon addition of Eu(3+) (as nitrate salt); it is suggested that the lack of quenching in the [3.2Eu(3+)] adduct is due to kinetic reasons because the electron-transfer quenching process is thermodynamically allowed.     

Aminolysis reaction of calix [ 4 ] arene esters and crystal structures and conformational behaviors of calix[4]arene amides

We first make use of aminolysis of calix[4]arene esters to synthesize calix[4]arene amides. When the two ethyl esters of the calix[4]arene esters are aminolysized, the 1, 3-amide derivative is formed selectively. The crystal structures of the calix-[4]arene with two butyl amide (3b) and four butyl amide moieties (4b) were determined. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds make 4b form two-dimensional net work insolid state. The 1H NMR spectra prove that 3b is of a pinched cone conformation, while 4b and tetraheptylamide-calix[4]arene (6b) take fast interconversion between two C2v isomers in solution and appear an apparent cone conformation at room temperature. As decreasing temperature, the interconversion rate decreases gradually and, finally, the interconversion process is frozen at Tc = -10℃, which makes both conformations of 4b and 6b the pinched cone structures. The hydrogen bond improves the interconversion barrier, and the large different values of the potential barrier between 6b and 4b (or 6b) may     

Self-assembled nanoscale capsules between resorcin[4]arene derivatives and Pd(II) Pt(II) complexes

Nanoscale molecular capsules have been prepared by self-assembly of resorcin[4]-arene derivatives and Pd(II) or Pt(II) complexes; the positively charged N-alkylpyridinium derivatives are encapsulated inside capsules due to strong cation-pi interactions.     

(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.