Interaction of cesium ions with calix[4]arene-bis(t-octylbenzo-18-crown-6): NMR and theoretical study.

Using (1)H, (13)C, and (133)Cs NMR spectra, it is shown that calix[4]arene-bis(t-octylbenzo-18-crown-6) (L) forms complexes with one (L·Cs(+)) and two (L·2Cs(+)) Cs(+) ions offered by cesium bis(1,2-dicarbollide) cobaltate (CsDCC) in nitrobenzene-d(5). The ions interact with all six oxygen atoms in the crown-ether ring and the π electrons of the calixarene aromatic moieties. According to extraction technique, the stability constant of the first complex is log β(nb)(L·Cs(+)) = 8.8 ± 0.1. According to (133)Cs NMR spectra, the value of the equilibrium constant of the second complex is log K(nb)((2))(L·2Cs(+)) = 6.3 ± 0.2, i.e., its stabilization constant is log β(nb)(L·2Cs(+)) = 15.1 ± 0.3. Self-diffusion measurements by (1)H pulsed-field gradient (PFG) NMR combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that one DCC(–) ion is tightly associated with L·Cs(+), decreasing its positive charge and consequently stabilizing the second complex, L·2Cs(+). Using a saturation-transfer (133)Cs NMR technique, the correlation times τ(ex) of chemical exchange between L·Cs(+) and L·2Cs(+) as well as between L·2Cs(+) and free Cs(+) ions were determined as 33.6 and 29.2 ms, respectively.