Syntheses and spectroscopic characterization of double-armed benzo-15-crown-5 derivatives and their sodium and potassium complexes

A series of new benzo-15-crown-5 derivatives (1–6) containing formyl and imine groups were prepared. New formyl crown ethers (1 and 2) were prepared by reaction of 4′,5′-bis(bromomethyl)benzo-15-crown-5 with 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (o-vanillin) and 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde in the presence of NaOH. New Schiff bases (3–6) were synthesized by the condensation of corresponding aldehydes with 1,3-diaminopropane and 1,4-diaminobutane. Sodium and potassium complexes (1a–6a and 1b–6b) of the crown compounds forming crystalline complexes of 1:1 (Na⁺:ligand) and 1:2 (K⁺:ligand) stoichiometries were also synthesized. The structures of the aldehydes 1 and 2, imines 3–6 and complexes (1a–3a and 1b–3b) were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, and mass spectroscopy.