Crown ether-facilitated transfers of alkali metal ions across the water-nitrobenzene interface

The transfer of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺ and Cs⁺ from water to nitrobenzene at their interface as facilitated by benzo-12-crown-4, benzo-15-crown-5, 4′-methylbenzo-15-crown-5 and benzo-18-crown-6 was studied by cyclic voltammetry. The mechanism of the transfer process was discussed and the stability constants of the complexes formed in nitrobenzene were determined.