Synthesis and metal ion complexing properties of novel chromogenic cryptands

Four novel chromogenic benzocryptands and one side-armed chromogenic cryptand have been synthesized and their complexing abilities for alkali metal cations are described.     

The Trifluoromethyl Anion: Evidence for [K(crypt‐222)]+

[K(crypt‐222)]⁺ ( 1 ) and [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ ( 3 ) are isostructural, displaying nearly identical unit cell parameters. The two structures are similar to the extent that the previously reported [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ model can be refined against the new data for [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ , with extra electron density being observed from the fourth fluorine atom of the . In agreement with experimental observations, theoretical calculations suggest that deprotonated [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ is highly unstable even at as low as 195 K. The previously considered 1:1 CHF ₃ clathrate of deprotonated [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ (crystallographically indistinguishable from 1 ) is ruled out on the basis of all available data.     

Application of Cryptand/Polystyrene Drift-Type Phase Transfer Catalysts for Reduction of Ketones

A drift-type phase transfer catalyst, cryptand-22, adsorbed on poly(styrene/diviny benzene)-sulfonic resin was prepared and applied to catalyze the reduction of ketones, e.g., acetophenone, benzophenone and benzaldehyde with NaBH₄ as a reducing agent. Before the reaction, cryptand-22 was adsorbed on the sulfonic resin with ion-pairing, resin-SO₃^{? +}NH-cryptand-22. The ion-pairs can be destroyed by adjusting the basicity of the reaction solution with NaOH and the cryptand can be released from the resin into the reaction solution as a homogeneous catalyst during the reaction period. After the reaction, the cryptand catalyst can be readsorbed on the resin by adjusting the acidity of the solution with HCl and can be readily recovered by filtration like a heterogeneous catalyst. The draft-type cryptand catalyst exhibited better catalytic ability than some common crown ethers, e.g., 15-crown-5, benzo-15-crown-5, 12-crown-4 and dibenzo-18-crown-6 for the reduction of acetophenone with NaBH₄. Effects of solvents, pH of solutions, concentration of the catalyst, reducing agents and resin property on the reduction of ketones were investigated and discussed. The reaction mechanism of the cryptand catalyzed reduction was also studied.     

Fluorescence studies and semiempirical calculations on alkali ion indicators

Two newly synthesized cryptands act as sensitive Na⁺- and K⁺-selective indicators for cation concentrations above 20 M. The fluorescence properties change markedly upon cation binding. In addition, the free ligands exhibit a pronounced sensitivity to pH, which is considerably lower for the cation complexes. Time resolved fluorescence is characterized by a decay time of about 5 ns that is attributed to the diprotonated protolytic state of the uncomplexed ligands. Semiempirical calculations show the systematic influence of the nitrogen lone pairs or the N–H bond on the stability of the system. The cause of the strong fluorescence intensity increase observed upon protonation of the fluorescent cryptands may be attributed to an increase in the S₁–T _x energy gap as a consequence of bridgehead nitrogen protonation.This is a peer-reviewed conference proceeding article from the Third Conference on Methods and Applications of Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Prague, Czech Republic, October 18–21, 1993.     

Simple Methods for the Synthesis of Cryptands and Supercryptands

The preparation of cryptands, supercryptands and macropolycycliccylindrical compounds is reviewed.     

Molecular dynamics simulations on the protonated 222. H+ and 222.2H+ cryptands in water:Endo versusexo conformations

MD simulations on the 222 cryptand, monoprotonated 222.H⁺ and diprotonated 222.2H⁺ in theendo-endo andexo-exo conformations have been performedin vacuo and in a bath of water molecules. It is found that intrinsicallyendo protonation is favoured overexo protonation due to internal N-H⁺ ... O hydrogen bonding which makes the cage more rigid. On the other hand,endo protonated forms display hydrophobic hydration compared toexo forms. For the monoprotonated 222. H⁺ endo conformer, one water molecule is hydrogen bonded inside the cage thereby forming a water cryptate. From the hydration pattern found previously for the neutral 222 cryptand and for its cation complexes, we suggest mechanisms (not involvingexo toendo conversions) for the protonation of 222 and for acid catalysed decomplexation of cryptates in theendo-endo form.     

Crown ether-based cryptand/tropylium cation inclusion complexes

Host–guest complexation between crown ether-based cryptand hosts and a carbonium ion, tropylium hexafluorophosphate was studied. ¹H NMR, NOESY NMR, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry were employed to characterize these inclusion complexes. The contrast tests of ¹H NMR and association constants indicated that cryptands are much better hosts for tropylium hexafluorophosphate than the corresponding simple crown ethers. C–H?O hydrogen bonding, face-to-face π-stacking interactions, and charge-transfer interactions are thought to be the main driving forces for the formation of these host–guest complexes. These multiple non-covalent interactions may jointly contribute to the complex formation and considerably reinforce the complex stability. Moreover, the complexation between dibenzo-24-crown-8-based cryptand 4 and tropylium hexafluorophosphate 7 can be reversibly controlled by adding KPF₆ and then DB18C6 in 1:1 acetonitrile/chloroform, providing a new cation-responsive host–guest recognition motif for supramolecular chemistry.     

Li-NMR study of the stoichiometry, stability and exchange kinetics of Li ion with 12-Crown-4, 15-Crown-5 and cryptands C222, C221 and C211 in 50% ionic liquid-acetonitrile mixtures

⁷Li-NMR spectroscopy was used to study the complexation of Li⁺ ion with 12C4, 15C5, C222, C221, C211 in acetonitrile (AN) and its 50% (wt/wt) mixtures with two new room temperature ionic liquids, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (EMim PF₆) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMim BF₄) at 298 K. Excluding the cases of Li⁺-C211 in all solvents and Li⁺-C221 in AN and 50% (wt/wt) AN-EMim PF₆, in other cases, the exchange between free and 1:1 complexed Li⁺ was fast on the NMR time scale and only a single population average ⁷Li signal was observed. Formation constants of the resulting 1:1 complexes were evaluated by computer fitting of the chemical shift-mole ratio data and integration of two ⁷Li signals. All complexes in EMim PF₆ were found to be more stable than those in EMim BF₄. ⁷Li-NMR line-shape analysis was used to determine the kinetic parameters and the mechanism for the chemical exchange of Li⁺ between the free and 1:1 complex with C221 in 50% (wt/wt) AN-EMim PF₆ mixtures solution. By comparing our study with the previous one, it is derived that, increasing the percentage of ion liquid in acetonitrile, changes the mechanism and decrease the exchange rate constant of Li⁺ ion between free and complex sites.     

Two bis(p-phenylene)-34-crown-10-based cryptand constitutional isomers: different binding abilities induced by structural alterations

Two novel bis(p-phenylene)-34-crown-10-based cryptand constitutional isomers were prepared and their host–guest complexations with paraquat were studied by ESI-MS, UV–vis spectroscopy, ¹H NMR spectra, and X-ray crystal structures. Notably, though the only difference between the two hosts is the location of the nitrogen atom on the third arms, they exhibited quite different binding abilities with paraquat. Competitive complexation was carried out and it may provide a simple way to construct sophisticated supramolecular materials with reversibility and adaptability.     

Reactions of macrocyclic rhodium carbenoids: regioselective synthesis of indol-3-yl macrocyclic lactones and cryptands

A wide variety of new macrocyclic diazocarbonyl compounds with various spacers was synthesized. Macrocyclic rhodium(II) carbenoid insertion with various substituted indoles was performed to afford regioselectively, indol-3-yl macrocyclic di- or tetralactones (C3-alkylation). Double carbenoid insertion was also performed to afford indolyl cryptand molecules.