Extraction and transport of lithium ion by a crown ether-alkylphosphoric acid system [1]

Mixed carrier systems composed of crown ethers and alkylphosphoric acids have been studied as lithium ionophores using a solvent extraction technique and in transport across liquid membranes. The combination of dibenzo-14-crown-4 and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid showed a synergistic enhancement on both lithium ion selectivity and transport rate. The synergistic effects depended strongly upon crown ether structure and the enhancement was observed only when the metal cation corresponded to the crown ether's cavity diameter. Complex formation in the organic phase was assessed by use of FAB-mass spectrometry.     

Synthesis of poly(vinyl alcohol)-based poly(crown ether)s and permeability of their polymeric membranes

Polymers that contain crown ether moieties at the side chain and are capable of forming rather tough film were synthesized by the polymer reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) with formyl derivatives of aliphatic crown ethers such as 12-crown-4, 15-crown-5, and 18-crown-6. In the passive transport of alkali metal picrates across the poly(crown ether) membranes the permeation, particularly of alkali metals which tend to form intramolecular sandwich-type complexes with the crown ether rings, was retarded, compared with a poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane. The cation selectivities in the permeation of poly(crown ether) membranes differed significantly from those of poly(vinyl alcohol).     

Metal ion separations with proton-ionizable crown ethers and their polymers

Abstract

Lipophilic crown ethers with pendent proton-ionizable groups are novel complexing agents for use in metal ion separations by solvent extraction. For a series of structurally related, lipophilic dibenzocrown ether carboxylic acids, the efficiency and selectivity of competitive alkali metal cation extraction for aqueous solution into chloroform is found to be strongly influenced by the crown ether ring size and the lipophilic group attachment site. Reaction of dibenzocrown ether carboxylic acids with formaldehyde in formic acid produces condensation polymers which possess both ion-exchange and cyclic polyether binding sites for metal ion complexation. These resins exhibit excellent exchange kinetics for competitive alkali metal cation sorption from aqueous solution and subsequent stripping and may be used in concentrator columns for the recovery of these metal ions from very dilute aqueous solution. Cation selectivity in the sorption and stripping steps is controlled by the structure of the crown ether monomer unit.     

Alkali cation binding of polymers with different sized crown ethers and photodimerizable units

The polymers which have different sized crown ethers as alkali cation binding sites and photodimerizable cinnamoyl units were prepared by the cationic copolymerization of corresponding monomers. The crown–cation complexation ratio (1:1 or 2:1) was investigated by measuring quantum yields ? of the photodimerization of the crown-connected cinnamoyl units in the presence of alkali metal chlorides and also by measuring the shift of λ_max of alkali metal picrates in THF on addition of the crown polymers. A significant 1:2 complex formation of alkali cations with two different sized crown ether units in the side chain of the polymers was confirmed. The alkali metal cation binding ability and selectivity of the polymers, which were studied by a method of picrate salts extraction, were markedly different from those expected from the combination of polymers of same ring-size crown ether units. When irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light, the cinnamic acid ester groups of the polymers caused dimerization even in dilute solutions. The cation binding ability of the polymers was largely enhanced by the photodimerization of the cinnamoyl moieties with suitable template cations.     

The complexation of alkali metal ions by crown ethers,aza crown ethers,and cryptands in propylene carbonate

The reactions between alkali metal ions and crown ethers, aza crown ethers, and cryptands in propylene carbonate were studied by potentiometric and calorimetric titrations. The most stable complexes formed by macrocyclic and macrobicyclic ligands are when the ligand and cation dimensions are comparable. On comparing the complex stabilities of crown ethers and aza crown ethers of the same size, crown ethers were, on the whole, found to form the most stable complexes, with the exception of the lithium cation. Enthalpic factors are responsible. Substitution of the amino group protons of the aza crown ethers by benzyl groups leads to a high increase in values of the reaction enthalpy. This effect is partly compensated by entropic contributions. The bulky benzyl groups reduce the ligand solvent interactions and induce a ligand conformation with the lone pair of electrons from the nitrogen donor atoms which are more or less directed inside the cavity. The thermodynamic data for the transfer from methanol to propylene carbonate indicate that the ligands containing nitrogen show specific interactions with methanol.This paper is dedicated to Professor H. Strehlow on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Selective separation of alkali metal cations by bulk chloroform membranes containing lipophilic crown ether phosphonic acid monoethyl esters

A series of crown ether phosphonic acid monoethyl esters with crown ether ring size variation from 12-crown-4 to 24-crown-8 is used in bulk chloroform membranes to separate alkali metal cations from mixtures. Selective proton-coupled transport of alkali metal cations from weakly alkaline aqueous phases is achieved. With individual ionizable crown ether carriers, transport selectivity for Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺-Cs⁺ is achieved. A closely related lipophilic phosphonic acid monoethyl ester derivative with a cyclohexyl unit in place of the crown ether exhibits transport selectivity for Li⁺. However, the corresponding phosphonic acid diethyl ester is devoid of transport activity. Effects of structural variation within the carrier upon the selectivity and efficiency of competitive alkali metal cation transport are assessed.     

New lipophilic crown ethers with intraannular carboxylic acid groups: Synthesis and alkali metal cation extraction

A six‐step synthetic route to four lipophilic crown ethers with intraannular carboxylic acid groups and ring sizes of 15‐crown‐4, 18‐crown‐5, 21‐crown‐6 and 24‐crown‐7 is described. Eight new polyether compounds that bear inward‐facing bromo and formate ester substituents are prepared as synthetic intermediates. Selectivities and efficiencies of the four new lipophilic crown ether carboxylic acids in competitive alkali metal cation extraction from aqueous solutions into chloroform are evaluated.     

Recoordination of a metal ion in the cavity of a crown compound: a theoretical study. 1. Conformers of arylazacrown ethers and their complexes with Ca2+ cation

Photoinduced recoordination of Ca²⁺ complexes of the photochromic azacrown ethers is studied by the density functional method. The study included model arylazacrown ethers containing various acceptor groups in the aromatic ring in the para position to the azacrown ether moiety and a real azacrown-containing styryl dye. It is found that both free azacrown ethers and their complexes can adopt two types of conformations: (1) axial conformations, in which the aromatic ring axis passing through the crown ether nitrogen N_cr and the opposite atom of the aromatic ring is perpendicular to the root-mean-square (RMS) plane of the crown ether (least-squares fitted plane for all the crown ether atoms), and (2) equatorial conformations, in which the aromatic ring axis only slightly deflects from the RMS plane of the crown ether. In the equatorial conformers, the metal cation is coordinated only to the O atoms of the azacrown ether cycle, the metal—nitrogen bond is broken, and N_cr is conjugated with the aromatic ring. In the axial conformers, the metal cation is additionally coordinated to N_cr. It is found that the presence of an acceptor group bearing a formal positive charge decreases the relative energy of the equatorial conformer and favors metal—nitrogen bond dissociation, which results in the recoordination of the metal cation. However, a long distance between the charged group and N_cr has the reverse effect. The photoinduced recoordination observed in the alkaline-earth metal complexes of the photochromic azacrown ethers is explained by the transitions between the axial and equatorial conformers facilitated by the charge transfer in the excited state of the complex.     

Molecular Design of Crown Ethers. 22. Synthesis of Benzocrown Ether Derivatives and Their Solvent Extraction with Univalent／Bivalent Metal Picrates

Three novel benzocrown ether derivatives have been synthesized and their cation binding behavior with uniand bi-valent metal ions was evaluated by the solvent extraction of aqueous metal picrates. The obtained results indicate that the size-fit of crown ether and metal cation, and electron effect of the side arm attached to benzocrown ethers affect their cation binding ability and selectivity.     

AFM observation of cation complexation of dibenzocrown ethers adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

The cation complexation behavior of dibenzocrown ethers adsorbed on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates was investigated by means of atomic force microscopy using probe tips modified chemically with ammonium ion by silane coupling. The specific adhesion force based on the intermolecular force between dibenzocrown ether and ammonium ion was observed via force curve measurements in ethanol at the interface between the substrate and tip. The observed specific force decreased in the presence of the alkali metal ion in solution, indicating that the cation in solution interferes with the complexation of the crown ethers adsorbed on the substrate with the ammonium ion immobilized on the tip. The blocking effect of metal ions in solution on the observed force depended on the sizes of both the blocking cation and crown ether ring, suggesting that the surface-adsorbed dibenzocrown ethers possess a selective cation-complexing ability similar to that in their bulk state and that the adhesion force measurements using cation-modified tips allow evaluation of the cation-complexing ability of crown ethers under cation-competitive conditions.     

Synthesis of Crown Ethers from (+)-Tartaric Acid : Improved Procedures

The synthesis of crown ethers incorporating tartaric acid units has been systematically examined. The optimum sytheses utilize oligoethylene glycol ditosylates, the bis-dimethylamide of tartaric acid, and sodium hydride as the base. The reaction conditions preserve the chiral centers.     

Synthesis and Complexing Properties of Novel Crown Ethers and Thiacrown Ethers Incorporating New Heterocyclic Moieties

The synthesis of some novel crown and thiacrown ethers via the reaction of 2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) or 2,3-bis(4-mercaptophenyl)quinoxalines and pyridopyridazine with diethylene and triethylene glycol ditosylate is described. The complexing ability of compounds 5b and 5h, as the representatives of both groups of compounds, with alkali and alkali earth metal cations were measured by the solvent extraction method. The results showed that crown ether 5b comparatively had more affinity towards the Mg²⁺ cation, while thiacrown ether 5h had greater affinity towards the Ca²⁺ cation.     

Synthesis and study of crown ether-appended boron dipyrrin chemosensors for cation detection

Boron dipyrrin (BDP) bearing crown ethers of varying cavity sizes, namely, 15-crown-5, 18-crown-6, and 21-crown-7, at the meso-position are synthesized and employed as chemosensors for cation detection in solution. In the absence of metal cations, the emission of the BDP moiety is found to be quenched to some extent by an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process from the donor oxygen atoms to the acceptor BDP unit. Coordination of metal ions to the oxygen donor atoms in the crown ether cavity inhibits intramolecular charge transfer to the BDP acceptor, leading to cation-induced fluorescence enhancement. The fluorescence enhancement is systematically probed as a function of crown ether cavity and metal ion sizes to achieve metal ion selectivity.     

Structure‐Driven Selection of Adaptive Transmembrane Na+ Carriers or K+ Channels

Self‐assembled alkyl‐ureido‐benzo‐15‐crown‐5‐ethers are selective ionophores for K⁺ cations, which are preferred to Na⁺ cations. The transport mechanism is determined by the optimal coordination rather than classical dimensional compatibility between the crown ether hole and the cation diameter. Herein, we demonstrate that systematic changes of the structure lead to unexpected modifications in the cation‐transport activity and suffice to produce adaptive selection. We show that the main contribution to performance arises from optimal constraints on the conformational freedom, which are determined by the binding macrocycles, the nature of the hydrogen‐bonding groups, and the hydrophobic tails. Simple changes to the flexible 15‐crown‐5‐ether lead to selective carriers for Na⁺. Hydrophobic stabilization of the channels through mutual interactions between lipids and variable hydrophobic tails appears to be an important cause of increased activity. Oppositely, restricted translocation is achieved when constrained hydrogen‐bonded macrocyclic relays are less dynamic in a pore superstructure.     

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.     

冠醚-CuI混合催化剂的组份对溴代雌甾的亲核取代反应的影响

冠醚能与碱或盐的阳离子络合,从而使阴离子在非质子溶剂中成为“裸阴离子”,具有特别强的亲核性或硷性,所以在有机合成中获得广泛的应用。为了探求冠醚的应用范围,同时寻求一种既简便又宜于较大量制备雌甾甲氧基衍生物的方法,作者曾首次将冠醚用于雌甾衍生物的合成,设计了冠醚-亚铜盐混合催化体     

Synthesis of helical polyisocyanides bearing aza‐crown ether groups as pendant

We, herein, present a novel synthesis of responsive helical poly(aryl isocyanide)s bearing aza‐crown ethers as pendant groups. Chiral aryl isocyanide monomers bearing an aza‐crown ether as a pendant were designed and synthesized, piror to polymerization using a Pd‐Pt µ‐ethynediyl complex as an initiator to give the corresponding polymers in good yield. The resulting polyisocyanides adopted a stable helical structure in solution, as confirmed by circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis. In addition, the polymers were soluble in various solvents. Furthemore, the addition of suitable alkali metal ions to the crown ether of the sidechain on the helical polyisocyanide to form host‐gest complexes resulted in deformation of the helix due to electrostatic repulsion, and these phenomena depended on the size of metal cations. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 496–504.     

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.     

Transport of alkali metal cations across liquid membranes by crown ether carboxylic acids

Competitive alkali metal transport from an alkaline aqueous source phase through a chloroform phase to an acidic aqueous receiving phase facilitated by nine crown ethers with pendant carboxylic acid groups has been investigated. Transport selectivity is controlled by the size of the polyether cavity of the carrier. Increasing the lipophilicity of the carrier, while maintaining a constant polyether cavity size, enhances the total transport rate but does not affect the selectivity. There is poor agreement between the results of competitive transport and the behavior anticipated on the basis of single cation transport studies.     

Preparation of N‐(4′,6′‐difluoro‐2′‐hydroxybenzyl)‐monoaza‐15‐crown‐5 and x‐ray crystal structure of potassium thiocyanate complex: A molecular partition wall

Armed monoaza‐15‐crown‐5 having a 4′,6′‐difluoro‐2′‐hydroxybenzyl group as an additional binding site ( 2 ) has been prepared by the Mannich reaction of N‐methoxymethylmonoaza‐15‐crown‐5 with 3,5‐difluorophenol. The reactive site on 3,5‐difluorophenol for the Mannich reaction was predicted by an electrostatic potential calculation (density functional calculation, SVWN/DN* method). Ligand 2 is interesting, because it has two possible binding sites (phenolic OH group and fluorine atom) in the side arm. An X‐ray crystal structure of the potassium thiocyanate complex of ligand 2 revealed that the oxygen atom of the phenolic OH group binds to the potassium cation incorporated in the crown ether ring, and two water molecules are enclosed by two armed crown ethers with the crown ethers forming partition walls.