Host-guest sensing by calixarenes on the surfaces.

The present critical review reports on recent developments of optical nanoparticles based on the association of gold, silver, silica and quantum dots and calixarenes. These hybrid organic-inorganic compounds characterized by a thick organic layer self-assembled on the surface of a core of mineral surface atoms take advantage of the supramolecular recognition of luminescent calixarenes to fabricate nanodevices of nanoparticle size, capable of detecting metal cations, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and pesticides. Also presented is an explanation of the involvement of such nanoparticles in biochemical systems. This critical review provides an overview of their preparation, the manner in which they are characterized, and their use (108 references).

Recognition of amino acids by functionalized calixarenes.

The calixarenic receptors exhibit remarkable host-guest properties towards biologically relevant guests. Aspects of complex formation reactions between both native and derivatized amino acids, di-and tripeptides with calixarenic (chiral or not) receptors are summarized in this critical review. Thus, the discussions emphasize the parameters that affect the molecular binding selectivity and efficiency of functionalized calix[n]arenes towards these substrates. A brief survey on their application in separation of amino acids is also considered (123 references).

Hyperbranched calixarenes: synthesis and applications as fluorescent probes.

This feature article is a timely review of a portion of the authors' work concerning the chemistry of dendrimers and subsequent related fluorescent probes. The design of supramolecular systems provides an original approach to nanoscience and nanochemistry. The construction of well-defined functional architectures of nanometric size represents a way of performing programmed engineering of nanomaterials. Among the nanomaterials, dendrimers are set apart, and very recently a large number of works have been devoted to the elaboration of molecular sensors. These two aspects will be developed in this article from the authors' experience with calixarenes.

Synthesis of mono-, di- and tetra-alkyne functionalized calix[4]arenes: reactions of these multipodal ligands with dicobalt octacarbonyl to give complexes which contain up to eight cobalt atoms.

The functionalized mono-alkyne cone-monopropargyl p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene was synthesized by the reaction of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with K(2)CO(3) and 3-bromo-1-propyne. More prolonged reaction times led to the formation of the 1,3 cone bis(propargyl)calix[4]arene . The tetra-alkyne species cone-tetrapropargyl p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene and its conformational isomer, 1,3-alternate-tetrapropargylcalix[4]arene may both be prepared via related reaction sequences. The structures of the molecules and were both re-determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. All four functionalized calixarenes react rapidly with dicobalt octacarbonyl to give [(calix[4]arene).{Co(2)(CO)(6)}(n)] species (n = 1, 2 or 4) in which the alkyne functionalities of the propargylcalix[4]arenes are ligated to one or more [Co(2)(CO)(6)] groups. Two products could be harvested from the reaction of [Co(2)(CO)(8)] with the bis-propargyl-calixarene , depending on the reaction conditions and relative molar quantities of the reactants: complex , [1,3-cone bis(propargyl)calix[4]arene.{Co(2)(CO)(6)}(2)], in which each alkyne group is bonded to a [Co(2)(CO)(6)] group, and complex , [1,3-cone bis(propargyl)calix[4]arene.{Co(2)(CO)(6)}], which contains a unligated alkyne and an alkyne group bonded to a Co(2)(CO)(6) unit. The structures of the tetracobalt and octacobalt complexes and were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

A pyrenyl-appended triazole-based calix[4]arene as a fluorescent sensor for Cd2+ and Zn2+.

The synthesis and evaluation of a novel calix[4]arene-based fluorescent chemosensor 8 for the detection of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) is described. The fluorescent spectra changes observed upon addition of various metal ions show that 8 is highly selective for Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) over other metal ions. Addition of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) to the solution of 8 results in ratiometric measurement.

Calix[4]arene-based, Hg2+ -induced intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer chemosensor.

A novel calix[4]arene-based chemosensor 1 based on Hg2+-induced fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was synthesized, and its sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated by UV/vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Addition of Hg2+ to a CH3CN solution of 1 gave a significantly enhanced fluorescence at approximately 575 nm via energy transfer (FRET-ON) from the pyrenyl excimer to a ring-opened rhodamine moiety. In contrast, addition of Al3+ induced a distinct increase of pyrenyl excimer emission ( approximately 475 nm), while no obvious FRET-ON phenomenon was observed. Different binding behaviors of 1 toward Hg2+ and Al3+ were also proposed for the interesting observation.

Novel C3v-symmetrical N7-Hexahomotriazacalix[3]cryptand: a highly efficient receptor for halide anions.

[structure: see text] We report the synthesis of a novel C(3)(v)()-symmetrical N(7)-hexahomotriazacalix[3]cryptand (1). Compound 1 was shown to be in a fixed cone conformation by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray single-crystal structure determination. Complexation studies showed that 1 is a selective receptor for halide ions. The effects of zinc metal cation on the receptor (1-Zn(2+)) upon anion recognition are also shown.

Calix[4]azacrowns as novel molecular scaffolds for the generation of visible and near-infrared lanthanide luminescence.

Two calix[4]azacrowns, capped with two aminopolyamide bridges, were used as ligands for the complexation of lanthanide ions [Eu(III), Tb(III), Nd(III), Er(III), La(III)]. The formation of 1:2 and 1:1 complexes was observed, and stability constants, determined by UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, were found to be generally on the order of log beta(11) approximately 5-6 and log beta(12) approximately 10. The structural changes of the ligands upon La(III) complexation were probed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. The two ligands were observed to have opposite fluorescence behaviors, namely, fluorescence enhancement (via blocking of photoinduced electron transfer from amine groups) or quenching (via lanthanide-chromophore interactions) upon metal ion complexation. Long-lived lanthanide luminescence was sensitized by excitation in the pi,pi band of the aromatic moieties of the ligands. The direct involvement of the antenna triplet state was demonstrated via quenching of the ligand phosphorescence by Tb(III). Generally, Eu(III) luminescence was weak (Phi(lum)

Photophysics of Calix[4]biscrown-based ditopic receptors of caesium containing one or two dioxocoumarin fluorophores.

The ditopic receptors Calix-COU1 and Calix-COU2 consist of a calix[4]biscrown containing one or two dioxycoumarin fluorophores, respectively, inserted into the crown. They can form 1:1 and 2:1 (metal:ligand) complexes with caesium ions. The photophysical properties of the 1:1 complexes can be explained by (i) cation tunneling through the tube-shaped cavity (composed of the four phenyl rings) of the calix[4]biscrown, (ii) photodisruption of the interaction between the bound cation and the oxygen atoms belonging to both the coumarin moiety and the crown, (iii) photoinduced motions of the cation.

Self-inclusion in 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-26,27,28-trihydroxy-25-(methoxycarbonylmethoxy)calix[4]arene chloroform trisolvate.

The title compound, C(47)H(60)O(6).3CHCl(3), is the first example of a lower-rim mono-ester calixarene derivative to be crystallographically characterized. The cone conformation adopted by the macrocycle is stabilized by three intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Self-inclusion of the methyl ester chain in the cavity of an adjacent molecule gives rise to infinite chains parallel to the c axis. C-H...pi interactions involving the methyl group most imbedded in the cavity contribute to the stabilization of the system.

Synthesis and binding properties of calix[4]arenes with [2 + 2'] mixed ligating functional groups.

A series of mixed [2 + 2'] p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene have been synthesised by selective 1,3-dialkylation of phenolic groups using various alkylating agents such as benzyl bromide, methyl iodide, ethyl bromoacetate, and 2-methoxyethyl tosylate. The extraction and complexation properties of the synthesized calixarenes towards alkali and alkaline earth metal cations have been investigated in acetonitrile by means of UV spectrophotometry and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The results show the formation of ML and/or ML2 species depending on the ligand and the cation. The enthalpies and entropies of complexation of alkali metal cations by a tetraglycol, diglycol-dibenzyl and diglycol-diester derivatives have been obtained from calorimetric measurements. The results revealed that the formation of ML species is controlled by enthalpy while the formation of ML2 from ML is entropy driven.

Factors influencing solvent adduct formation by calixarenes in the solid state.

Structural studies of seven very differently functionalised derivatives of calix[4]arene have been used to provide an analysis of the numerous factors which may influence solvent adduct formation by calixarenes. Evidence is presented that even where a solvent guest is included within the calixarene cavity, interactions solely within the cavity cannot be seen as the sole influences upon the guest position and orientation.

Alkali metal ion complexes of functionalised calixarenes--competition between pendent arm and anion bonding to sodium.

Determination of the crystal structure of the acetonitrile inclusate of the complex formed between sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate, CF3SO3-) and the narrow-rim functionalised calix[4]arene, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-di(phenylmethoxy)-26,28-di(2'-methoxyethoxy)calix[4]arene, has shown, somewhat unexpectedly, that the diether pendent arms do not chelate the sodium cation, although coordination of all four phenolic oxygen atoms does draw the calixarene into a nearly symmetrical cone form, consistent with conclusions drawn earlier from solution 1H NMR data. Crystals of C64H80O6.NaO3S.CF3.CH3CN obtained from acetonitrile solvent are monoclinic, C2/c, a structure determination at 'low' temperature (153 K) resolving several difficulties encountered in earlier attempts to analyse data acquired at approximately 295 K, and indicative of an interesting temperature dependence of substituent and anion orientations.

Rapid metal ions shuttling through 1,3-alternate Thiacalix[4]crown tubes.

Several new thiacalix[4]monocrown and thiacalix[4]biscrown compounds were synthesized. Their metal ion extractabilities are found to be lower than those of conventional calix[4]crowns. By use of X-ray crystal structures and (1)H NMR spectroscopy, this result is explained by weaker electrostatic interactions of the polyether ring oxygen atoms with the metal ions and diminished pi-metal ion interactions between the metal ions and the aromatic rings of the thiacalix[4]crowns. Temperature-dependent (1)H NMR spectroscopic measurements reveal coalescence temperatures T(c)(intra) and T(c)(inter) for metal ion exchange. In one case, this exchange was rationalized as metal ion shuttling through a thiacalix[4]biscrown tube. Since the metal ions are less tightly complexed by the polyether units in thiacalix[4]biscrowns than in conventional calix[4]biscrowns, more facile metal ion exchange between the two polyether units takes place in the former.

Two triethylammonium ion complexes of monoanionic calix[4]arene.

Two complexes between mono-deprotonated calix[4]arene and Et(3)HN+ are reported. The first, triethylammonium 26,27,28-trihydroxypentacyclo[19.3.1.1(3,7).1(9,13).1(15,19)]octacosa-1(25),3,5,7(28),9,11,13(27),15,17,19(26),21,23-dodecaen-25-olate, C(6)H(16)N+ x C(28)H(23)O(4)-, comprises only the cationic and anionic species, whereas the second, tris(triethylammonium) tris[26,27,28-trihydroxypentacyclo[19.3.1.1(3,7).1(9,13).1(15,19)]octacosa-1(25),3,5,7(28),9,11,13(27),15,17,19(26),21,23-dodecaen-25-olate] acetonitrile solvate, 3C(6)H(16)N+ x 3C(28)H(23)O(4)(-) x C(2)H(3)N, comprises one acetonitrile solvent molecule for three such units. In both cases, the units are stacked in columns so that the ammonium cation is hydrogen bonded to a phenolic or phenolate O atom of one molecule and included in the hydrophobic cavity of another neighbouring calixarene. The short contacts present indicate that cation* * *pi and C-H* * *pi interactions are likely to be involved in the inclusion phenomena.