Polycarboxylate diaza crown ethers derived from R,R-(+)-tartaric acid: synthesis and complexation of metal ions

Abstract

The synthesis and complexation properties of polycarboxylate diaza crown ethers based on R,R-(+)-tartaric acid are described. Cesium carbonate mediated macrocyclization of a bis-tosylamide precursor with a bis-tosylate precursor provided the protected crown ethers. Photochemical deprotection of the tosylamides and hydrolysis of the carboxamides yielded dicarboxylic and tetracarboxylic acid derivatives of 1,10-diaza-18-crown-6. N-Methylenecarboxylate (N-acetate) derivatives were prepared by N-alkylation with bromoacetic acid. The synthetic and purification procedures developed provide samples of the ligands in a metal-free form. Acidity and stability constants for complexation of alkali metal, alkaline earth, late- and post-transition metal cations were determined by potentiometric titration. The ligands form complexes which show enhancement of stability by charge–charge and chelate interaction with the carboxylates. In comparison with crown ether polycarboxylates these aza crown ethers showed a selectivity for softer metal ions relative to alkali and alkaline earth metal ions. N-Methylenecarboxylate chelate ligands were found to bind almost all types of metal ions, due to a highly co-operative array of charge–charge, chelate and crown ether interactions. Keywords: aza crown ether synthesis, tartaric acid, potentiometric titration, cation complexation, aminocarboxylate complexone.