Substitution effect, absorption, and fluorescence behaviors of 11,12-benzo-1,7,10,13-tetraoxa-4-aza-cyclopentadec-11-ene (benzoaza-15-crown-5) derivatives upon cation complexation in solvent extraction

Substitution effect, absorption, and fluorescence behaviors of some benzoaza-15-crown-5 derivatives upon cation complexation in solvent extraction were studied. The introduction of a substituent on the nitrogen atom in benzoaza-15-crown-5 enhanced extractabilities in the solvent extraction of aqueous alkali metal picrates. The nondonating substituents raised the cation selectivity for Na+ over K+, but the donating substituents reduced the cation selectivity. The absorption and fluorescence spectral behavior was different with the alkali metal cations.