Hard-soft receptors, tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy] thiacalix[4]arene derivatives with cone and 1,3-alternate conformation

Direct O-alkylation of p-tert-butyltetrathiacalix[4]arene with N,N-diethylchloroacetamide afforded two conformational isomers (1,3-alternate and cone) of tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene and 1,3-disubstituted bis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene, depending on the base used. The complaxation behaviors of the tetrakis isomers were assessed by H-1 NMR titration experiments. Evidence of 1:2 (homo- and hetero-dinuclear) complexes formation of 1,3-alternate-tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene with alkali (K+ and Na+) or transition (Ag+) metal ions was obtained. Interestingly, it was found that the cone-tetrakis[(N,N-diethylaminocarbonyl)methoxy]thiacalix[4]arene required a prior Ag+ complexation to form 1:2 heterodinuclear complex.