title: Syntheses of cis- and trans-dibenzo-30-crown-10 derivatives via regioselective routes and their complexations with paraquat and diquat.
abstract: cis-Dibenzo-30-crown-10 (cis-DB30C10) diester and trans-dibenzo-30-crown-10 (trans-DB30C10) diester were synthesized regioselectively with reasonable yields. These two isomers were further reduced to cis-dibenzo-30-crown-10 diol (1) and trans-DB30C10 diol (2), respectively. The complexations of cis- and trans-DB30C10 diols with paraquat (3) and diquat (4) were investigated by (1)H NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray analysis. The reversible control of complexations of 1 x 3 and 2 x 3 by adding small molecules (KPF 6 and dibenzo-18-crown-6) was demonstrated by (1)H NMR. The addition of 2 molar equiv of KPF 6 is enough to dissociate 2 x 3 and 1 x 3 completely while the subsequent addition of 2 molar equiv of DB18C6 allows the two complexes to reform. However, 2 molar equiv of KPF6 cannot dissociate 1 x 4 and 2 x 4 completely. Because the DB30C10 cavity has a better geometry fit with paraquat 3 than with diquat 4, 4-based complexes have much higher association constants than the corresponding 3-based complexes. In the crystal structure of 1 x 4, the two hydroxymethyl groups of the crown ether 1 were joined by a "water bridge" to form a "supramolecular cryptand" while this kind of supramolecular cryptand structure was not observed in the crystal structure of 2 x 4. This is a possible reason for the increase in association constant from 2 x 4 (3.3 x 10(4) M(-1)) to 1 x 4 (5.0 x 10(4) M(-1)).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zuming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Qizhong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Shijun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Feihe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang