Synthesis of double-armed lariat ethers with pyrene moieties at each end of two sidearms and their fluorescence properties in the presence of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations.

Abstract

Two types of double-armed lariat ether derivatives having pyrene moieties at each end of two sidearms, (3x + 1)-crown-x derivatives 1 (x = 5), 2 (x = 6), and 3 (x = 4) (type A) and 3y-crown-y derivatives, 6 (y = 5) and 7 (y = 6) (type B), were synthesized, and their complexation behavior toward alkali metal and alkaline earth metal cations was examined by fluorescence spectroscopy. Pyrene excimer emission decreased accompanied by an increase in monomer emission upon metal ion complexation. This finding is ascribed to the change of the spatial distance of two pyrene rings by movement suppression of both the crown ring and one of the two sidearms based on complexation with the metal cation. The selectivity for alkaline earth metal cations was highly dependent on the fitness of the host cavity and the guest size. Although most of the fluorophores did not respond to alkali metal cations, only trans-7a containing an 18-crown-6 ring showed K(+) selectivity.