Synthesis and alkaline earth metal cation extraction by proton di-ionizable p-tert-butylcalix[4] arene-crown-5 compounds in cone, partial-cone and 1,3-alternate conformations

Synthetic strategies for novel, proton di-ionizable p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-crown-5 compounds in cone, partial-cone and 1,3-alternate conformations are reported. Selective linkage of the two diametrical phenolic oxygens in p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with tetraethylene glycol ditosylate gave 1,3-bridged p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-crown-5. The two remaining phenolic units were alkylated using NaH and KH as the bases to give the cone and partial-cone conformers, respectively. Preparation of the 1,3-alternate conformers utilized a different sequence in which O-alkylation was followed by crown ether ring formation. Structures of these new ligands were elucidated by H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. These proton-ionizable ligands were tested for their solvent extraction properties toward alkaline earth metal cations. Surprising differences in their extraction behaviors are noted compared to those reported previously for di-ionizable p-tert-butylcalix[4]arenecrown-6 analogues.