The interaction of lower rim calix(4)arene derivatives containing ester (1) and ketone (2) functional groups and bivalent (alkaline-earth, transition- and heavy-metal) cations has been investigated in various solvents (methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, and benzonitrile). Thus, 1H NMR studies in CD3OD, C3D7NO, and CD3CN show that the interaction of these ligands with bivalent cations (Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Hg2+, Pb2+, Cd2+) is only observed in CD3CN. These findings are corroborated by conductance measurements in these solvents including benzonitrile, where changes upon the addition of the appropriate ligand (1 or 2) to the metal-ion salt only occur in acetonitrile. Thus, in this solvent, plots of molar conductance against the ligand/metal cation ratio reveal the formation of 1:1 complexes between these ligands and bivalent cations. Four metal-ion complex salts resulting from the interaction of 1 and 2 with cadmium and lead, respectively, were isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. All four structures show an acetonitrile molecule sitting in the hydrophobic cavity of the ligand. The mode of interaction of the neutral guest in the cadmium(II) complexes differs from each other and from that found in the lead(II) complexes and provides evidence of the versatile behavior of acetonitrile in binding processes involving calix(4)arene derivatives. The thermodynamics of complexation of these ligands and bivalent cations in acetonitrile is reported. Thus, the selective behavior of 1 and 2 for bivalent cations is for the first time demonstrated. The role of acetonitrile in the complexation process in solution is discussed on the basis of 1H NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies. It is suggested that the complexation of 1 and 2 with bivalent cations is likely to involve the ligand-solvent adducts rather than the free ligand. Plots of complexation Gibbs energies against the corresponding data for cation hydration show a selectivity peak which is explained in terms of the predominant role played by cation desolvation and ligand binding energy in complex formation involving metal cations and macrocycles in solution. A similar peak is found in terms of enthalpy suggesting that for most cations (except Mg2+) the selectivity is enthalpically controlled. The ligand effect on the complexation process is quantitatively assessed. Final conclusions are given highlighting the role of the solvent in complexation processes involving calix(4)arene derivatives and metal cations.

A new calix[4]arene derivative containing mixed pendant arms in its lower rim, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl[25,27-bis(ethylethanoate)oxy-26,28-bis(ethylthioethoxy)]-calix[4]arene, 1, has been synthesized and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR. 1H NMR data carried out in CDCl3, CD3CN, CD3OD, and C3D7NO suggest that as far as acetonitrile is concerned, the hydrophobic cavity is likely to embrace a solvent molecule. It is shown that the hosting capacity of 1 toward metal cations is greater in acetonitrile than in N,N-dimethylformamide and in methanol. Thus, in the former solvent, complexation with various cations (Li+, Na+, Ag+, Ca2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, and Pb2+) occurs while in the latter media, 1 interacts only with Ag+ and Hg2+. This statement is corroborated by 1H NMR, conductance, calorimetric and potentiometric measurements. It is concluded that through molecular inclusion of acetonitrile in the hydrophobic cavity of 1, the hydrophilic cavity of the resulting adduct becomes more receptive to host metal cations than that of the free ligand. In propylene carbonate, the results show that the ligand loses its ability to interact with metal cations. Thus in acetonitrile, selective recognition of 1 for Hg2+ is demonstrated to an extent that the selectivity for this cation is greater by factors of 1.8 × 103, 1.9 × 103, 6.9 × 103, 1.8 × 104, 4.1 × 104 and 4.5 × 104, relative to Pb2+, Na+, Li+, Cu2+, Ag+, and Ca2+, respectively. This statement is supported by the thermodynamic characterization of the complexation process involving these systems in acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylformamide and in methanol. Thus, the medium effect on the binding process is carefully assessed. The results show that replacement of two ester groups in two alternate pendant arms of the tetraester calix[4]arene derivative by thioethyl moieties has altered significantly the binding capacity and the selective behavior of the latter relative to the former. Final conclusions are given.