Simultaneous preconcentration of uranium(VI) and thorium(IV) from aqueous solutions using a chelating calix[4]arene anchored chloromethylated polystyrene solid phase

A new chelating polymeric sorbent is developed using Merrifield chloromethylated resin anchored with calix[4]arene-o-vanillinsemicarbazone for simultaneous separation and solid phase extractive preconcentration of U(VI) and Th(IV). The “upper-rim” functionalized calix[4]arene-o-vanillinsemicarbazone was covalently linked to Merrifield resin and characterized by FT-IR and elemental analysis. The synthesized chelating polymeric sorbent shows superior binding affinity towards U(VI) and Th(IV) under selective pH conditions. Various physico-chemical parameters that influence the quantitative extraction of metal ions were optimized. The optimum pH range and flow rates for U(VI) and Th(IV) were 6.0-7.0 and 1.0-4.0 ml min⁻¹ and 3.5-4.5 and 1.5-4.0 ml min⁻¹, respectively. The total sorption capacity found for U(VI) and Th(IV) was 48734 and 41175 μg g⁻¹, respectively. Interference studies carried out in the presence of diverse ions and electrolyte species showed quantitative analyte recovery (98-98.5%) with lower limits of detection, 6.14 and 4.29 μg l⁻¹ and high preconcentration factors, 143 and 153 for U(VI) and Th(IV), respectively. The uptake and stripping of these metal ions on the resin were fast, indicating a better accessibility of the metal ions towards the chelating sites. The analytical applicability of the synthesized polymeric sorbent was tested with some synthetic mixtures for the separation of U(VI) and Th(IV) from each other and also from La(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) by varying the pH and sequential acidic elution. The validity of the proposed method was checked by analyzing these metal ions in natural water samples, monazite sand and standard geological materials.     

Azo calix[4]arene based neodymium(III)-selective PVC membrane sensor

We found that the PVC membrane, containing azo calix[4]arene is a suitable ionophore, exhibited a Nernstian response for neodymium (Nd³⁺) ions (with slope of 19.8 ± 0.2 mV decade⁻¹ for the triply charged ion) over a wide linear range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹, a relatively fast response time, in the whole concentration range (<10 s), and a considerable life time at least for four months in the pH range of 4.0-8.0. Furthermore, the electrode revealed high selectivity with respect to all the common alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions, including the members of the lanthanide family other than Nd³⁺. Concerning its applications, it was effectively employed for the determination of neodymium ions in industrial waste water as well as in lake water.     

Solid-phase synthesis of linear and cyclic peptides containing a calix[4]arene amino acid

Solid-phase synthesis is used to obtain new linear and cyclic N,C-linked peptidocalixarenes. The synthetic strategy allows, for the first time, the condensation of a calix[4]arene amino acid during the stepwise elongation sequence of the peptide. An important role is played by the lower rim functionalization of the calixarene since it modulates the flexibility of the calixarene scaffold and the conformational properties of the resulting non-natural peptide.     

一种新型杯[4]芳烃的合成

本文通过对特丁基杯[4]芳烃的酚羟基烷基化和苯环特丁基位上的IPSO-硝化制备了一系列对硝基杯[4]芳烃烷基醚,烷基分别是n-C~4H~9(3a)、n-C~8H~1~7(3b)、n-C~1~2H~2~5(3c)和n-C~1~6H~3~3(3d)。^1HNMR表明所有新的杯[4]芳烃都具有锥形(cone)构象。     

Extraction of thorium(IV) and europium(III) by a phosphorylated calix[4]arene in dichloromethane

Summary The extractive properties of 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(diphenylphosphinoylmethoxy)calix[4]arene towards thorium(IV) and europium(III) ions are studied. The conventional log-log analysis of the extraction data reveals that the stoichiometry of the extracted species is 1 : 1 metal ion to ligand ratio for the two metals. The effects of ligand concentration, types of diluent and concentration of the salting-out agents are investigated and discussed. The selectivity of the ligand for thorium and europium ions versus Mn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺ is examined.     

Evaluation of perchlorate sorption behavior of calix[4]arene appended resin

In the present work, perchlorate sorption ability of calix[4]arene appended resin was investigated to develop a new efficient method for the removal of perchlorate from aqueous media. The column sorption process was performed at a wide range of pH (1–7) and perchlorate content in the effluent was determined through ion chromatography. From the results, it has been concluded that maximum sorption (97 %) of perchlorate is taking place at pH 3. The breakthrough curves were obtained as a function of time to get clear picture of sorption process and the data obtained was tested by applying two kinetic sorption models, i.e. Yoon-Nelson and BDST. The data obtained through experiments were compared with the theoretically calculated values and it has been found that both have close agreement with each other.     

Synthesis and Conformational Properties of Bis（calix [4] arene）

The bis(calix [4] arene)3 was synthesized in moderate yield by the reaction of p-tert-butylcalix [4] arene (1) with 1,4-bis(chloromethyl) benzene (2). The conformation of all alkylated product 4 was investigated by the variable-temperature ^1H-NMR.     

Binucleating behaviour of a proximally-diphosphinated calix[4]arene

The long diphosphine 5,11-diphenylphosphanyl-25,26-dipropyloxy-27,28-bis(2-propenyloxy) calix[4]arene (cone) (5), in which the two phosphorus atoms are separated by a semi-rigid linking unit, was prepared in four steps starting from calix[4]arene. Reaction of 5 with AuCl(SEt(2)) or [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) led to calixarenes bearing two metallated pendant arms, [5·(AuCl)(2)] and [5·{RuCl(2)(p-cymene)}(2)], respectively. In the presence of AgBF(4) or [Ni(C(5)H(5))(1,5-cyclooctadiene)]BF(4), diphosphine 5 displayed a marked tendency to form oligomeric material, but under high dilution conditions dimeric species were obtained selectively. The inability of 5 to form chelate complexes was further illustrated by its reaction with [PdCl(2)(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(2)], which led quantitatively to a rare complex in which a diphosphine spans across the dinuclear [PdCl(μ-Cl)(2)PdCl] unit.     

Electrochemical oxidation of a tetraester calix[4]arene

The electrochemical oxidation of tetraethyl ester p-tert-butyl calix[4]arene 1 was observed in acetonitrile solution at a platinum electrode, using either cyclic or square wave voltammetry. The oxidation occurred in a number of processes, with the lowest, process I at a peak potential of 1.10 V vs. Ferrocene, being the best defined response. This was attributed to the one-electron oxidation of the aryl ether functionality present in the calixarene and so should provide a route to the electrochemical detection of calixarenes in non-aqueous mixtures. The oxidation behaviour was dependent on the presence of alkali metal cations in solution. Shifts in the oxidation potentials observed were in good agreement with the order of selectivity for the alkali metal cations.     

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-assembly of meso-tetrakis(4-N-ethylpyridiniurmyl) porphyrin and tetracarboxyl-phenyl calix[4]arene

Novel dimeric capsules are generated from the noncovalent assembly of 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis(4-N-ethylpyridiniurmyl)prophyrin (TEPyP) and tetracarboxyl-phenyl calix[4]arene. The self-assembly system was investigated based on UV-Vis absorption and fluorescent spectra. The factors affecting the interaction process including pH and concentration were examined in detail. The association constants between TEPyP and calix[4]arene were determined by the nonlinear least squares fit. The results showed that the basic medium is favourable to the interaction and electrostatic interaction was determinate in the processes of self-assembly process. The related mechanism was discussed.     

Supramolecular interaction between water-soluble calix[4]arene and ATP--the catalysis of calix[4]arene for hydrolysis of ATP

The catalysis effect of water-soluble calix[4]arene C[4] (calix[4]arene-5,11,17,23-tetrasulfonate) on hydrolysis of ATP in aqueous solution was studied by HPLC. Using laser photolysis and pulse radiolysis, the supramolecular interaction between water-soluble calix[4]arene and ATP was investigated.     

Fluoride sensing with a PCT-based calix[4]arene

Novel calix[4]arene-based anion sensor 1 with two coumarin units attached via amido functions acting also as binding sites is presented. Complexation of F⁻ by PCT-based 1 causes selectively red-shift in UV-vis absorption and in fluorescence emission due to H-bonding followed by deprotonation of NH-amide groups.     

Study on thermal decomposition of calix[6]arene and calix[8]arene

Thermal decomposition kinetics of calix[6]arene (C6) and calix[8]arene (C8) were studied by Thermogravimetry analysis (TG) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). TG was done under static air atmosphere with dynamic heating rates of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 K min⁻¹. Model-free methods such as Friedman and Ozawa–Flynn–Wall were used to evaluate the kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E _a) and pre-exponential factors (ln A). Model-fitting method such as linear regression was used for the evaluation of optimum kinetic triplets. The kinetic parameters obtained are comparable with both the model-free and model-fitting methods. Within the tested models, the thermal decomposition of C6 and C8 are best described by a three dimensional Jander’s type diffusion. The antioxidant efficiency of C6 and C8 was tested for the decomposition of polypropylene (PP).     

Potentiometric sensors based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with sulfonated calix[4]arene and calix[4]resorcarenes

Potentiometric ion sensors have been prepared by galvanostatic electrosynthesis of the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with p-sulfonated calix[4]arene (C[4]S) and p-methylsulfonated calix[4]resorcarenes (R_n[4]S) with alkyl substituents of different chain length (R₁=CH₃; R₂=C₂H₅; R₃=C₆H₁₃). The bowl-shape of these doping ions makes them suitable as ionic recognition sites, and their bulky character is expected to prevent them from leaching out of the conducting polymer membrane. For comparison, sensors based on PEDOT doped with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVS) were also constructed. The resulting GC/PEDOT electrodes were conditioned in 0.01 mol L^–1 AgNO₃ and their performance as Ag⁺ ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) studied. Results reveal that selectivity and lifetime of the electrodes is affected by the doping anion structure, although all electrodes show selectivity towards Ag⁺ ions. Interaction of Ag⁺ with sulfur atoms present in the conducting polymer backbone is considered to be the main reason for this behavior. A second set of electrodes was constructed and conditioned in 0.1 mol L^–1 KCl. These electrodes were tested in chloride solutions of quaternary ammonium cations, showing that C[4]S and R₂[4]S exhibit significant sensitivity towards pyridinium.Dedicated to Professor György Horányi on the occasion of his 70th birthday in recognition of his outstanding contributions to electrochemistry     

Nanoencapsulation of calix[4]arene inclusion complexes

A hexameric resorcinarene nanocapsule in wet CDCl3 forms inclusion complexes of calix[4]arene with tetramethylammonium and trimethylsulfoxonium cations to give highly stable Russian-doll-type multicomponent assemblies. The 2D NOESY experiments revealed the size of the assembly, the close proximity of the encapsulated calix[4]arene molecule to the resorcinarene molecules of the capsule, and the inclusion of the tetramethylammonium cation in the calix[4]arene cavity.