Abstract
The basicity of so-called superbases is ascribed to the presence of free, i.e., naked, hydroxide ions. Infrared spectroscopic studies of various KOH (and KOCH 3) crown ether dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 and dibenzo-18-crown-6) and Sr(OH) 2 cryptand(222) solutions in polar (methanol, chloroform) and non-polar solvents (toluene, n-heptane) revealed that unsolvated OH − ions are not present in such strong basic solutions. Formation of potassium crown ether complexes shown by the i.r. bands at 1095–1102 and 990–995 cm −1 (dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6) is always accompanied (and only possible if) by that of methoxide ions (i.r. band at 1050–1060 cm −1). The presence of solvated OH − ions cannot be excluded.
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