Synthesis of N-substituted cyclic triglycines and their response to metal ions

N,N^′,N^″-Trisubstituted-cyclo-triglycines were synthesized. The major conformation of these compounds has C₃ symmetry, and the carbonyl groups and substituents on the nitrogen are inclined in the same direction. Their response to various metal ions was estimated by constructing ion-selective electrodes. Two of them responded selectively to Ca²⁺ over other cations, demonstrating that N,N^′,N^″-trisubstituted-cyclo-triglycines provide a new scaffold to act as host molecules.