Ethylene oxide-bridged bipyridine oligomers that function as selective host molecules for the encapsulation of small alkali cation guests

Two novel ethylene oxide-bridged bipyridine oligomers were synthesized that contain host pockets with four (1) or six (2) oxygen donor atoms and a pyridyl nitrogen donor. The alkali picrate extracting ability and selectivity of these free ligands was investigated using a liquid–liquid dichloromethane–water extraction study. Both open-chain oligomer frameworks display unexpectedly high extraction efficiency (EE) values for specific guest ions (EE = 57% Na⁺ extracted by 1, and EE = 39% Cs⁺ extracted by 2). These extraction values are comparable to macrocyclic analogues and their ion selectivities follow the ‘same-fit’ concept that has been extensively reported for fixed pocket systems. The shorter chain oligomer (1) binds ions in the series (Na⁺ > K⁺ > Cs⁺), while the larger oligomer (2) binds ions in the reverse order (Cs⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺). Formation of the host–guest ligand–ion complexes were verified by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry experiments. A Job’s plot analysis based on UV spectral data also supported the 1:1 (oligomer to ion) complexation observed in the MALDI mass spectra.