Shape recognition of alkylammonium ions by 1,3-bridged calix[5]arene crown-6 ethers: endo- vs exo-cavity complexation

A series of tri-O-substituted 1,3-bridged calix[5]arene crown-6 ethers bearing alkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxycarbonylmethyl residues at the lower rim and either (t)()Bu or H substituents at the upper rim have been synthesized. (1)H NMR studies have shown that p-tert-butylcalix[5]crowns, irrespective of the size and nature of their lower rim pendant groups, adopt preorganized conelike conformations, whereas p-H-calix[5]crowns with bulky substituents preferentially exist in solution as partial cone conformers (C(1) symmetry). Calix[5]crown derivatives behave as mono- or ditopic receptors for isomeric butylammonium ions, forming endo-cavity (inside the calixarene cup) and/or exo-cavity (at the crown ether moiety) 1:1 complexes according to the shape of the guest. These two binding modes can be clearly distinguished and monitored by (1)H NMR titration experiments.     

Linking Chiral Clusters with Molybdate Building Blocks: From Homochiral Helical Supramolecular Arrays to Coordination Helices

The synthesis of four new oxo‐centered Fe clusters ( 1 a – c , 2 ) of the form [Fe^III₃(μ₃‐O)(CH₂=CHCOO)₆] with acrylate as the bridging ligand gives rise to potentially intrinsically chiral oxo‐centered {M₃} trimers that show a tendency to spontaneously resolve upon crystallization. For instance, 1 a , [Fe^III₃(μ₃‐O)(CH₂=CHCOO)₆‐(H₂O)₃]⁺, crystallizes in the chiral space group P3₁ as a chloride salt. Crystallization of 1 b , [Fe₃(μ₃‐O)(C₂H₃CO₂)₆(H₂O)₃]NO₃?4.5H₂O, from aqueous solution followed by recrystallization from acetonitrile also gives rise to spontaneous resolution to yield the homochiral salt [Fe₃(μ₃‐O)(C₂H₃CO₂)₆‐(H₂O)₃]NO₃?CH₃CN of 1 c (space group P2₁2₁2₁). Furthermore, the reaction of 1 a with hexamolybdate in acetonitrile gives the helical coordination polymer {[(Fe₃(μ₃‐O)L₆(H₂O))(MoO₄)‐(Fe₃(μ₃‐O)L₆(H₂O)₂)]?2CH₃CN?H₂O}_∞ 2 (L: H₂C?CHCOO), which crystallizes in the space group P2₁. The nature of the ligand geometry allows the formation of atropisomers in both the discrete ( 1 a – c ) and linked {Fe₃} clusters ( 2 ), which is described along with a magnetic analysis of 1 a and 2 .     

Cation transport by a redox-active synthetic ion channel

The synthesis, cation binding and transmembrane conductive properties of a novel group of synthetic ion channels containing a redox-active centre are described. Experiments using a black lipid membrane preparation revealed that these compounds function effectively as ion channels. Subsequent 23Na NMR spectroscopy studies focused on a synthesized ion channel with a ferrocene centre. When incorporated in vesicular bilayers, this channel was demonstrated to support a Na+ flux that was at least six times faster than ion transport by monensin. Since oxidation of the ferrocene moiety completely inhibited the Na+ transport, the redox-active centre provides a potential mechanism for controlling ion flux.     

Wavelength independence of Eu quantum yields

A quantitative comparison between the excitation and absorption spectra of Eu³⁺ in aqueous solution is given which leads to the conclusion that fluorescence quantum yields are independent of the excitation wavelength. Use is made therefore of the series of homologous lines ⁵D₃, ⁵D₂, ⁵D₁, ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁.