Molecule and ion recognition of nano-baskets of calixarenes since 2005

Porous Polycalix[n]arenes as Environmental Pollutant Removers

A new and innovative class of calixarene-based polymers emerged as adsorbents for a variety of compounds and ions in solution and vapor media. These materials take advantage of the modifiable rims and hydrophobic cavities of the calixarene monomers, in addition to the porous nature of the polymeric matrix. With main-chain calixarenes' function as supramolecular hosts and the polymers' high surface areas, polycalixarenes can effectively encapsulate target analytes. This feature is particularly useful for environmental remediation as dangerous and toxic molecules reversibly bind to the macrocyclic cavity, which facilitates their removal and enables repeated use of the polymeric sorbent. This Spotlight touches on the unique characteristics of the calixarene monomers and discusses the synthetic methods of our reported calixarene-based porous polymers, including Sonogashira-Hagihara coupling, and diazo and imine bond formation. It then discusses the promising applications of these materials in adsorbing dyes, micropollutants, iodine, mercury, paraquat, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from water. In most cases, these reports cover materials that outperform others in terms of recyclability, rates of adsorption, or uptake capacities of specific pollutants. Finally, this Spotlight addresses the current challenges and future aspects of utilizing porous polymers in pollution treatment.

Structure and ionic conductivity of the octahydrate of tetralithium salt of calix[4]arenesulfonic acid

The structure and ionic conductivity of the octahydrate of tetralithium salt of calix[4]arenesulfonic acid was determined for the first time.

Carrier-mediated extraction: Applications in extraction and microextraction methods

The present review is mainly focused on the overview of carrier mediated extraction (principles and applications) being reported over the last two decades and discusses the extraction process through carriers in various extraction methods such as Bulk liquid membranes, supported liquid membranes, emulsion liquid membranes and polymer inclusion membranes. Several types of carriers such as neutral, anionic, cationic, macrocyclic and supramulecular carriers are discussed. Also their application for metal, anions, drugs and environmental compounds are investigated. Carriers have been demonstrated to be useful for the selective extraction and recovery of numerous cations and anions enhancing the extraction properties of traditional solvent extraction and ion-exchange processes. Several types of carriers have different transport mechanisms. In these mechanisms, transport configurations are addressed and emphasized and the detailed information on the type of carrier are presented along with their specific separation modes. The performance of different carriers in terms of selectivity as well as efficiency are also discussed. Finally, the application of different carriers for the extraction of various compounds are compared and reviewed. To our best knowledge no reviews have been published on carrier-mediated extraction methods.

Sulphur-rich functionalized calix[4]arenes for selective complexation of Hg2+ over Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+

ON–OFF fluorescent chemosensors based on sulphur-rich functionalized calix[4]arenes selectively bind Hg²⁺ over Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺.

Metal ion binding properties of a bimodal triazolyl-functionalized calix[4]arene on a multi-array microcantilever system. Synthesis, fluorescence and DFT computation studies

A bimodal calix[4]arene functionalized with triazolyl-linked anthracenyl and 3-propylthioacetate groups is described.

Synergism as a phenomenon in solvent extraction of 4f-elements with calixarenes

The objective of the review is to provide an overview on the synergistic solvent extraction of lanthanoids: β-diketone/calixarene mixtures.

Binding Selectivity of Macrocycle Ionophores in Ionic Liquids versus Aqueous Solution and Solvent-free Conditions

The understanding of supramolecular recognition in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) is key to develop the full potential of these materials. In this work, we provide insights into the selectivity of the binding of alkali metal cations by standard cyclodextrin and calixarene macrocycles in RTILs. A direct laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry approach is employed to determine the relative abundances of the inclusion complexes formed through competitive binding in RTIL solutions. The results are compared with the binding selectivities measured under solvent-free conditions and in water/methanol solutions. Cyclodextrins and calixarenes in which the peripheral OH groups are substituted by bulkier side groups preferentially bind to Cs(+) . Such specific ionophoric behavior is substantially enhanced by solvation effects in the RTIL. This finding is rationalized with the aid of quantum mechanical calculations, in terms of the conformational features and steric interactions that drive the solvation of the inclusion complexes by the bulky RTIL counterions.

Application of Nano-Baskets for Extraction of Lanthanides

Eight proton di-ionisable diacid conformers of nano-baskets including 25,26-di(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arene-crown-3, -crown-4, -crown-5 and -crown-6 in the cone conformation have been synthesised and shown to extract lanthanide cations effectively. Their selectivities were greatly influenced by the acidity of the solution and the conformations of the calix-crown. The extraction loading was improved by having the p-tert-butyl-moiety in the upper rim. The scaffold bearing the crown-4 ether moiety showed the least loading, while scaffolds with crown-3- and crown-5-ether moieties had the best selectivities.

Molecular assemblies of porphyrins and macrocyclic receptors: recent developments in their synthesis and applications

Metalloporphyrins which form the core of many bioenzymes and natural light harvesting or electron transport systems, exhibit a variety of selective functional properties depending on the state and surroundings with which they exist in biological systems. The specificity and ease with which they function in each of their bio-functions appear to be largely governed by the nature and disposition of the protein globule around the porphyrin reaction center. Synthetic porphyrin frameworks confined within or around a pre-organized molecular entity like the protein network in natural systems have attracted considerable attraction, especially in the field of biomimetic reactions. At the same time a large number of macrocyclic oligomers such as calixarenes, resorcinarenes, spherands, cyclodextrins and crown ethers have been investigated in detail as efficient molecular receptors. These molecular receptors are synthetic host molecules with enclosed interiors, which are designed three dimensionally to ensure strong and precise molecular encapsulation/recognition. Due to their complex structures, enclosed guest molecules reside in an environment isolated from the outside and as a consequence, physical properties and chemical reactions specific to that environment in these guest species can be identified. The facile incorporation of such molecular receptors into the highly photoactive and catalytically efficient porphyrin framework allows for convenient design of useful molecular systems with unique structural and functional properties. Such systems have provided over the years attractive model systems for the study of various biological and chemical processes, and the design of new materials and molecular devices. This review focuses on the recent developments in the synthesis of porphyrin assemblies associated with cyclodextrins, calixarenes and resorcinarenes and their potential applications in the fields of molecular encapsulation/recognition, and chemical catalysis.

Chromatographic separation of clenbuterol by bonded phases bearing nano-baskets of p-tert-calix[4]-1,2-crown-3, -crown-4, -crown-5 and -crown-6

BACKGROUND

Clenbuterol (salbutamol), which increases muscle mass and decreases adipose tissue, is misused as a nutrient-repartitioning agent in livestock. In this paper a new sensitive method for determining clenbuterol in livestock is presented. The novelty of this approach is the separation and determination of salbutamol enantiomers with marked quantitative merits.

RESULTS

Four proton di-ionisable Nano-baskets, namely 5,11,17,23-tetrakis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-25,26-bis(carboxy-methoxy)calix[4]arene-27,28-crown-3, -crown-4, -crown-5 and -crown-6 in the cone conformation, were synthesised and used to prepare bonded phases for high-performance liquid chromatography separation. The new synthesised bonded phases were characterised and optimised. The bonding interactions of solute/bonded phases were examined and the main interactions are reported.

CONCLUSION

The clenbuterol levels in six samples of livestock meat (pork, pork casing, beef, beef casing, mutton and mutton casing) were analysed and the results revealed that for the best bonded phases the limits of detection and quantitation were 0.06 and 0.2 µg mL(-1) respectively.

Extraction of s-block metals by nano-baskets of calix[4]crown-3

Three kinds of nano-baskets including 1,2-alternate and cone conformers of di-ionizable p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-crown-3 and the cone conformer of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-1,2-thiacrown-3 were synthesized and the competitive solvent extractions of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations were studied. The novelty of this study is including three binding units of the calixarene’s bowl, the crown ether’s ring, and electron-donor ionizable moieties in a unique scaffold, in which their sizes were selected based upon their complexation ability to show equal binding tendency towards the cations. The objective of this work is to assess the extraction efficiency, selectivity, and pH1/2 of such complexes. The results of solvent extraction experiments indicated that these compounds were effective extractants of alkali and alkaline earth metal cations. Their selectivities were greatly influenced by the acidity of the solution and the conformations of the calixcrown. One conformer was highly selective to Na+ and the other to Ba2+ in acidic and basic solutions, respectively.