Calix [n]arene is a macrocyclic polyphenol in which n moles of phenol are combined with n moles of a methylene group, which is known as a new functional compound that can recognize molecules and ions by hydroxyl and/or by phenyl groups arranged on a molecular rim, or by a molecular cavity, making for a useful separation and analytical reagent. 1 pSulfonatocalix[n]arene in which n moles of a sulfonic acid group are introduced to a p-position of each phenol group, is soluble in water, and increases the acidity of hydroxyl groups and the reactivity with metal ions in aqueous solution. 2,3 p-Nitrocalix [6]arene (CALX-N6, L), which has 6 moles of a nitro group to the p-position of each phenol group, as indicated in Fig. 1, increases the acidity of hydroxyl groups to pKa1 = 2.72, pKa2 = 5.71 and pKa3 = 11.6, 4 like p-sulfonatocalix [6]arene, CALX-S6 (pKa1 = 3.28, pKa2 = 4.86 and pKa3 = 11.5). 5,6 Although these are the values in 4% (v/v) acetone aqueous solution, because CALX-N6 is insoluble in water, the acid dissociation behavior is very similar to that of CALX-S6. Therefore, it can also be estimated that the property of CALX-N6 as a ligand resembles that of CALX-S6. As reported in a previous paper, 4 CALX-N6 formed four kinds of protonated 1:1 uranyl complex species similar to CALX-S6. In the present study, the complex formation of CALX-N6 with a series of rare earth metal ions was investigated, and it was found that CALX-N6 reacts with rare earth metal ions to form a 1:1 complex, ML, with light rare earth metal ions (M 3+ ) and a 1:2 complex, ML2, with heavy M 3+ . Their conditional stability constants at about 25˚C were determined.
ExperimentalReagents and solution CALX-N6 was prepared by the nitration of CALX-S6 with HNO3 according to a method reported by Shinkai et al.,7 and was confirmed to be CALX-N6 by elemental analysis, 1 H-NMR and IR. This was dissolved in acetone, and then diluted with water to make an acetone aqueous solution of the appropriate concentration.Chlorides or nitrates of rare earth metal ions (M 3+ ) were obtained from Wako Junyaku Kogyo Co., in analytical reagent grade. These were dissolved to make 0.01 mol dm -3 aqueous solutions, standardized by a titration method using a standard EDTA solution, then appropriately diluted and used to study the complex formation reaction with CALX-N6. Other reagents such as tartaric acid and EDTA, and solvents, such as acetone, were also obtained from Wako, and were of analytical reagent grade.The absorption spectra were measured using Shimadzu UV-2450 and UV-180 spectrophotometers with a 1 cm light pass length quartz cell. The solution pH was measured using a Horiba F-21 pH meter.
Binding ratio of the metal complexInto a 25 or 50 cm 3 measuring flask, calculated amounts of CALX-N6, M 3+ and pH buffer solution (pH 10) were added and diluted to the mark with deionized water and left in a temperature-controlled room at about 25˚C. After standing for 48 h, the absorption spectrum of each sample solution was measured at 350 -600 nm. The absorbance at the absor...