Extraction and DFT study on the complexation of the cesium cation with dibenzo-21-crown-7

From extraction experiments and γ-activity measurements, the extraction constant corresponding to the equilibrium \textCs ⁺ ( \textaq ) + \textA ^- ( \textaq ) + 1( \textnb )\underset \rightleftharpoons 1·\textCs ⁺ ( \textnb ) + \textA ^- ( \textnb ) {\text{Cs}}^{ + } \left( {\text{aq}} \right) + {\text{A}}^{ - } \left( {\text{aq}} \right) + {\mathbf{1}}\left( {\text{nb}} \right)\underset {} \rightleftharpoons {\mathbf{1}}\cdot{\text{Cs}}^{ + } \left( {\text{nb}} \right) + {\text{A}}^{ - } \left( {\text{nb}} \right) taking place in the two-phase water-nitrobenzene system (A⁻ = picrate, 1 = dibenzo-21-crown-7; aq = aqueous phase, nb = nitrobenzene phase) was evaluated as log K _ex (1·Cs⁺, A⁻) = 4.4 ± 0.1. Further, the stability constant of the 1·Cs⁺ complex in nitrobenzene saturated with water was calculated for a temperature of 25 °C: log β_nb (1·Cs⁺) = 6.3 ± 0.1. Finally, by using quantum mechanical DFT calculations, the most probable structure of the resulting cationic complex species 1·Cs⁺ was solved.