Synthesis and properties of potassium salts of per-O-carboxymethyl-calix[4]pyrogallols and their complexes with Cu2+, Fe3+, and La3+

Synthesis of water-soluble potassium salts of carboxymethyl derivatives of calix[4]pyrogallols and dodeca(carboxylatomethyl)tetramethylcalix[4]pyrogallol (L) complexes with transition metal ions (Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, La³⁺) is described. Their structures in the solid state and in solution were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, ESR, and IR spectroscopy. Calix[4]pyrogallol dodecacarboxylates exist in the rccc-configuration. Calix[4]pyrogallol with methyl substituents at the lower rim in a wide range concentrations exists in water predominantly in the dimeric form. The obtained polynuclear transition metal complexes possess less symmetric structure than potassium salt of calix[4]pyrogallol (K₁₂L). All studied complexes contain water molecules bound by rather strong hydrogen bonds. At room temperature the Fe₄L complex is characterized by the environment of the Fe³⁺ ions close to octahedral. The absence of signals in the ESR spectrum of the Cu₆L complex indicates the strong antiferromagnetic interaction Cu²⁺-Cu²⁺.