Synthesis of a fluorescent 14-crown-4 derivative bearing a proton-dissociable moiety and its use for selective lithium-ion extraction

The fluorescent 14-crown-4 derivative possesses a p-(1,8-naphthalenedicarboxi-mido) phenol moiety as the proton -dissociable fluorophore; its synthesis is described. Highly selective extraction of lithium is achieved with the crown ether, based on a proton/metal ion-exchange mechanism. Extraction is accompanied by significant changes in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the organic phase. Extraction equilibrium constants for the lithium and sodium ions are evaluated, the Li⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio being 200; other alkali metal ions were not extracted. The Li⁺ extraction quenched the fluorescence intensity of the crown ether, in correlation with the initial cation concentration in the aqueous phase.     

Synthesis and complexing properties of bis-crown ethers incorporating benzo-15-crown-5 and metallocene

Bis-crown ethers in which the benzo-15-crown-5 units were linked to 1,1′-positions of metallocene (M = Fe or Ru) with amide, ester, or ? C? C? bonds were synthesized. Complexing ability of the compounds with alkali, alkali earth, and transition metal cations were measured by the solvent extraction method. The results showed that these crown ethers had high affinity toward alkali metal cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺) and heavy-metal cations (Ag⁺ and Tl⁺). The difference of complexing ability for metal cations between ferrocene and ruthenocene derivatives could not be detected significantly. The extractability of metallocene-bis-crown ethers for metal cations was more larger than that of the corresponding mono-crown ethers, and irregular increments of extractability were explained by assuming the existence of a mixture of 1:1 and 2:1 complexes.     

Proton-driven cation transport through polyamic acid membranes incorporating crown ether moiety

Proton-driven cation transport against cation concentration gradient has been investigated using films of polyamic acid 18-crown-6 (1) and polyamide 18-crown-6 (3)/polyamic acid (5) mixtures as the polymeric membrane. Both membrane systems containing the crown ethers were found to act as efficient alkali metal ion pumps. The ion-transportability of the polyamic acid 18-crown-6 membrane decreased in the order K⁺ > Cs⁺ > Na⁺ > Li⁺, which is reflected in the cation-complexing ability of the 18-crown-6 moiety. The transport selectivity, however, was varied remarkably by the combined use of polyvinylpyrrolidone with (1) and, therefore, by the resulting increase in hydrophilicity of the membrane. The ion-selectivity in the transport through mixed membranes of (3) and (5) was also dependent on the membrane composition. For the proton-driven cation transport two mechanisms are proposed; in one of the transport mechanisms, the carboxylic group cooperates with the crown ether moiety and in the other the carboxylic group participates independently.     

Selective Transport of Alkali Metal Cations in Solvent Extraction by Proton-Ionizable Dibenzocrown Ethers

Abstract

Lipophilic crown ethers with pendant proton-ionizable groups are novel metal complexing agents for use in solvent extraction of alkali metal cations. A variety of dibenzocrown ether carboxylic acids and dibenzo crown phosphonic acid monoesters have been examined to probe the effect of structural variation within the complexing agent upon selectivity and efficiency in solvent extraction. Results from competitive solvent extractions of alkali metal cations from aqueous solutions into chloroform are summarized.     

Synthesis of new proton-ionizable and neutral macrocyclic,macrobicyclic and macrotricyclic crown compounds containing dibenzo-16-crown-5 units

Fifteen new macrocyclic, macrobicyclic and macrotricyclic crown ether compounds with sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5 units have been prepared. The series includes macrocyclic polyether and bis(crown ether) compounds with proton-ionizable carboxylic or phosphonic acid monoethyl ester groups and bis(crown ether) and macrotricyclic polyether compounds with two sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5 units linked by amide, diamide, or diester functions.     

Cation transport at 25°c from binary Na+Mn+, Cs+Mn+ and Sr2+Mn+ nitrate mixtures in a H2OCHCl3H2O liquid membrane system containing a series of macrocyclic carriers

Cation fluxes from binary mixtures of either Na⁺, Cs⁺ or Sr²⁺ with other alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, and Pb²⁺ through a H₂OCHCl³H₂O bulk liquid membrane system containing one of several macrocyclic carriers have been determined Nitrate salts were used in all cases. The most selective transport of Na⁺ over all other cations studied was found with the carrier cryptand [2.2.1]. Selective transport of Na⁺ relative to Li⁺, Cs⁺ and the alkaline earth cations was found with cryptand [2.2.2B] and cryptand [2.2.2D]. The ligands 21-crown-7 and dibenzo-24-crown-8 showed selective transport of Cs⁺ over the second cation in all cases. Several macrocycles showed selectivity for Sr²⁺ over the second cation with the macrocycle 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6 showing the highest selectivity for this cation of all ligands studied. Relative fluxes from binary cation mixtures are rationalized in terms of macrocycle cavity size, donor atom type and ring substituents.     

Steric effects as a basis for improved monovalent cation extraction selectivity in crown ethers

Incorporation into a 20-crown-6 of a bulky substituent capable of impeding cation/anion access to one face of the crown ether cavity is shown to afford compounds exhibiting good extraction selectivity for potassium ion over both alkaline earth cations (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺) and other alkali metal ions (Na⁺, Cs⁺), an apparent result of diminished flexibility of the crown ether cavity, inhibition of the formation of extractable sandwich complexes with large cations, and the destabilizing effect of forcing charge-neutralizing counter anions to approach from one face of the crown cavity.     

Cation exchange properties of crown ether-phosphotungstic acid precipitates

Precipitate formation between phosphotungstic acid and crown ethers is a general phenomenon, producing solids with selective ion exchange behavior for the alkali metal ions. Distribution coefficients for Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺ were measured for a series of these precipitates with different crown ethers. The sorption data are more complicated than for the corresponding phosphomolybdates and indicate a variability in the number of exchangeable sites with H⁺ and M⁺ concentration. The crown ether used markedly affects the cation selectivity of the phosphotungstate precipitates.     

Factors Influence Complexing Selectivity of Lariat Crown Ethers Toward Alkali Metal Ions in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

The selectivity of eight lariat crown ethers in the sym‐dibenzo‐16‐crown‐5 series toward alkali metal ions was studied with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry under different conditions. With the exception of 2g , which is equally selective toward Na⁺ and Li⁺, all other lariat crown ethers show the best selectivity toward Li⁺ in methanol. Factors that influence the selectivity include the water content, counterions, nature of the side arms, and the externally added cations. Iodide gives the best Na⁺ selectivity with R_I > R_Br > R_Cl. Increased water content profoundly increases the Na⁺ selectivity when the side arm is hydrophilic and the steric hindrance is small. Externally added cations (Cs⁺ and/or Rb⁺) enhance the Na⁺ selectivity by exchanging the smaller Li⁺ from the cavity.     

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.     

Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic study of ion-pairs of sodium and potassium monoethyl benzeneazophosphonates and their crown ether complexes in acetonitrile

The u.v.-vis spectroscopic study of ion-pairs of the sodium and potassium monoethyl ester of [α-(4-benzeneazoanilino)-N-benzyl] phosphoric acid, [α-(4-benzeneazoanilino)-N-4-hydroxybenzyl] phosphonic acid and [α-(4-benzeneazoanilino)-N-4-methoxybenzyl] phosphonic acid and their complexes with dibenzo-18-crown-6 and dibenzo-24-crown-8 is described. While the free sodium salts of monoethyl benzeneazophosphonic acids, with an extremely low solubility in acetonitrile, may be classified as tight ion-pair salts, the correspondingly more soluble potassium salts exist as solvated loose ion-pairs in acetonitrile solutions. The interaction of crown ether either with sodium or potassium monoethyl benzeneazophosphonates produces crown separated ion-pairs.     

Synthesis of lipophilic crown ethers with pendant phosphonic acid or phosphonic acid monoethyl ester groups

Synthetic routes to fifteen lipophilic crown ether phosphonic acid monoethyl esters and nine lipophilic crown ether phosphonic acids are described. For both classes of crown ethers which have pendant, protonionizable groups, the crown ether ring sizes are systematically varied from 12-crown-4 and 24-crown-8.     

Highly Selective Lithium Transport through Crown Ether Pillared Angstrom Channels

Biological ion channels use the synergistic effects of various strategies to realize highly selective ion sieving. For example, potassium channels use functional groups and angstrom-sized pores to discriminate rival ions and enrich target ions. Inspired by this, we constructed a layered crystal pillared by crown ether that incorporates these strategies to realize high Li⁺ selectivity. The pillared channels and crown ether have an angstrom-scale size. The crown ether specifically allows the low-barrier transport of Li⁺. The channels attract and enrich Li⁺ ions by up to orders of magnitude. As a result, our material sieves Li⁺ out of various common ions such as Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺. Moreover, by spontaneously enriching Li⁺ ions, it realizes an effective Li⁺/Na⁺ selectivity of 1422 in artificial seawater where the Li⁺ concentration is merely 25 μM. We expect this work to spark technologies for the extraction of lithium and other dilute metal ions.     

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.     

New Potassium- and Cesium-selective Ionophoric Bis(crown ether)s Derived from Xanthene-4,5-dicarboxylic Acid

A series of bis(crown ether)sbased-upon a xanthene-4,5-dicarboxylic acid skeletonwas prepared and their ionophoric properties towardalkali metal cations were investigated. Bis(crownether)s bearing 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6 moietiesexhibited pronounced extraction efficiencies towardK⁺ and Cs⁺ ions, respectively, and theextraction constant estimated by solvent extractionstudies was as high as 10⁹ for the 2-K⁺ and 3-Cs⁺ systems. Using UVtitration of potassium picrate with 2 in THF, thecomplex was found to have a structure of a completelyencapsulated guest in the host. In transportexperiments, the bis(crown ether)s showed nosignificant selectivity pattern compared withextraction results, again implying the strongcomplexation of bis(crown ether)s. Ion-selectiveelectrode studies also demonstrated that the selectiveionophoric properties of 2 toward K⁺ werereminiscent of the natural antibiotic valinomycinexcept for a somewhat slow response.     

Molecular dynamics of 18-crown-6 complexes with alkali–metal cations and urea: Prediction of their conformations and comparison with data from the cambridge structural database

Complexes of 18-crown-6 with alkali–metal cations (Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺), urea, and the uncomplexed crown ether were studied in vacuo with the molecular dynamics method. Conformational data from these calculations (simulation times in the range from 6–15 ns) was compared with information from the Cambridge Structural Database. Despite the differences in condition between the simulations and the solid state, a number of interesting similarities are observed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photophysical and photochemical processes in zeolite cavities: The effects of ion-exchanged alkalimetal cations on the excited states of xanthone and the photolysis of 2-pentanone

The characteristics properties of xanthone phosphorescence and of 2-pentanone photolysis in alkali metal cation-exchanged zeolites have been investigated to clarify the effect of the micro-environment of host-adsorbents on the photophysical and photochemical properties of guest-molecules in restricted void spaces. The enhancement of the phosphorescence yields of xanthone included in zeolites is observed by changing the exchangeablealkali metal cation from Li⁺ to Cs⁺. Simultaneously, the phosphorescence lifetimes were observed to continuously shorten by changing the cation from Li⁺ to Cs⁺. These results suggest that the external heavy-atom effect deriving from the alkali metal cations on the singlet-triplet transitions of xanthone molecules stabilized on alkali metal cations in the order of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, and Cs⁺. The yields for the photolysis of 2-pentanone included in zeolites increase with changing the alkali metal cation from Li⁺ to Cs⁺. IR investigations of the adsorption state of 2-pentanone indicate that strength of the interaction between the alkali metal cations and 2-pentanones decreases by changing the cation from Li⁺ to Cs⁺, which results in a longer lifetime of 2-pentanone. The selectivity of propylene formation is dramatically increased by changing the cation from Li⁺ to Cs⁺. The enhanced formation of propylene is asociated with the hydrogen absorption from propyl radicals by lattice oxygen, their basicity increasing by changing the cation from Li⁺ to Cs⁺. Thus, these changes in the zeolite cavities modified by exchanging cations caused significant effects not only on the excited state but also on the following chemical reactions of ketones.     

Complexes of dibenzo-24-crown-8 with some sodium monoalkyl benzeneazophosphonates

Syntheses and properties of complexes of dibenzo-24-crown-8 with the sodium monoethyl ester and the sodium monobutyl ester of [α-(4-benzeneazoanilino)-N-benzyl]phosphonic acid, [α-(4-benzeneazoanilino)-N-4-hydroxybenzyl]phosphonic acid and [α-(4-benzeneazoanilino)-N-4-methoxybenzyl]phosphonic acid have been studied. The crystalline complexes formed were found to depend not only on the size of the cation and the crown ether cavity but also on the choice of anion and the reaction solvent. It was shown that the molecular structure and electronic configuration of the anion are important factors in a salt-ligand system which influence the case of solubilization and charge separation in solution. The complexes obtained were characterized on the basis of conductance measurements and UV, IR and ¹H NMR spectra.     

Guanidinium-selective PVC membrane electrodes based on crown ethers

Guanidinium-selective membrane electrodes were constructed with dibenzo-24-crown-8, dibenzo-27-crown-9, tribenzo-27-crown-9 or dibenzo-30-crown-10. The detection limits and selectivity coefficients towards different interfering ions, such as Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, NH⁺₄, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were determined. The electrode with dibenzo-27-crown-9 shows linear response over the range 10^?1–10^?4 M, with selectivity coefficients about 10^?2 for most alkali and alkaline earth metal ions.     

Competitive transport of alkali metal ions from aqueous media into toluene solutions of 2-(sym-dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)-decanoic acid. A comparative study

Competitive permeation of alkali metal ions from an alkaline source phase into or through a toluene phase facilitated by the lipophilic crown ether carboxylic acid 2-(symdibenzo-16-crown-5-oxy)-decanoic acid is studied in liquid—liquid extraction, bulk liquid membrane transport, and emulsion liquid membrane transport. Most rapid transport was obtained in emulsion liquid membrane experiments. Some differences in selectivity orders for alkali metal permeation were observed for the three separation techniques.