Cation complexation with p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene pentacarboxylic acid derivative: an allosteric regulation of the first metal ion for stepwise extraction of the second ion.

A calix[5]arene based solvent extraction reagent 3, appending carboxylic acid groups at the lower rim, has been developed and its complexation behavior towards some transition metal ions has been studied. The host 3 can selectively and quantitatively extract Pb(II) ions above pH 1.8 while other divalent ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) are extracted quantitatively only above pH 3.0. The outstanding Pb(II) selectivity of 3 comes from the size fit complementarity effect of the Pb(II) ion in the calix[5]arene cavity. One molecule of 3 extracts two Pb(II) ions in a stepwise manner. The first Pb(II) ion is extracted into the deep cavity of the calix[5]arene defined by phenoxy oxygen atoms. The first complexed Pb(II) ion acts as a template to bring the host into a cone conformation and induces a positive allosteric effect for the extraction of the second Pb(II) ion at an oxygen rich coordinating site composed of carboxyl groups. Both the Pb(II) ions are extracted through an ion exchange mechanism and the electroneutral complex in the organic phase is formed by the release of an equivalent number of hydrogen ions into aqueous solution. The loaded Pb(II) is easily back-extracted from Pb(II)-complexed 3 using dilute acid solution.