Complexation and transport of amino acid esters and their salts with synthesised chiral novel aza crown ether derivatives

The syntheses of four aza-15-crown-5 ethers bearing phenyl and phenoxymethyl moieties attached to a stereogenic centre on the crown ring were achieved. Macrocycles have exhibited strong binding ability (K_a = 5364–12,969 M^? 1) and modest enantiomeric discrimination towards the enantiomers of amino acid methyl ester salts by UV titration method in CHCl₃ at 25°C. Computer modelling results supported experimental data providing a detailed understanding of the molecular recognition mode between hosts and guests and the likely binding sites involved. Macrocycles were used for chiral discrimination of amino acids in their zwitterionic forms or as potassium and sodium salts in transport experiments across a bulk chloroform membrane with satisfactory selectivity.