Double partial cone conformation for Na8{calix[6]arene sulfonate}.cntdot.20.5H2O and its parent acid

Abstract

The chemistry of calixarenes has recently become a very active area of endeavor. Of the numerous stimulating findings to appear thus far in the literature, one of the most intriguing concerns the discovery of certain uranophiles by Shinkai. It was reported that calix[5]arene sulfonate, calix[6]arene sulfonate, and the two corresponding derivatives substituted at the base by carboxymethoxy groups, 1 with R{prime} = CH{sub 2}COOH, exhibited stability constants for the uranyl ion of K = 10{sup 18.4-19.2}. Indeed, in competition experiments these calixarenes showed selectivity factors of 10{sup 12-17} for uranyl over the Ni{sup 2+}, Zn{sup 2+}, and Cu{sup 2+} ions. This selectivity was attributed to a moderately rigid calix[6]arene structure which was preorganized to match the rather unusual pseudoplanar hexacoordination needs of the UO{sub 2}{sup 2+} ion. However, on the basis of this study this premise appears untenable. Considering the importance of the above mentioned findings, the structural chemistry of derivatives of calix[6]arene has been slow to develop. In the available selection it is difficult to find general conformational features, apart from the elliptical cone conformation exhibited by the parent p-tert-butycalix[6]arene. Since our group has found a rich and often surprising inclusion chemistry for calix[4]arene sulfonates, we decided to investigatemore » the structure of calix[6]arene sulfonate and its alkali metal salts. 28 refs., 1 fig.« less