Capping the upper and lower rims of calix[4]arenes by aryl dinitrile oxide reactions

A highly selective chromogenic and fluorogenic chemodosimeter for dual detection of Cu2+ based on a redox-active calix[4]arene with isoxazolylchloroanthracene

Calix[4]arene 1 with 25,27-diisoxazolylchloroanthryl groups is a chromogenic and fluorogenic sensor for Cu2+ with a LOD of 1.67 μM by fluorescence. Calix[4]diquinone was obtained in high yield through the redox reaction of ligand 1 with Cu(ClO4)2.

1,3-Alternate Calix[4]arene Functionalized With Pyrazole and Triazole Ligands as a Highly Selective Fluorescent Sensor for Hg2+ and Ag+ Ions

We report here the synthesis of a 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene 8, with bis-pyrazolylmethylpyrenes on the one end and bis-triazolylmethylphenyls on the other end, as a homoditropic fluorescent sensor for both Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions. Calix[4]arene 3, with lower-rim bis-pyrazolylmethylpyrenes in cone conformation, was also synthesized as a control compound. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra were used for metal ions screening, and we found that both ligands 8 and 3 showed strong excimer emission of pyrenes when they are as a free ligand in CHCl₃/MeOH (v/v, 3:1) solution; however, they both showed a high selectivity toward Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions with strong fluorescence quenching and yet with different binding ratios. The fluorescence of ligand 8 was strongly quenched by Hg²⁺ but was only partially quenched by Ag⁺ ions; however, the fluorescence of ligand 3 was strongly quenched by Hg²⁺, Ag⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions. Job plot experiments showed that ligand 8 formed a 1:2 complex with both Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions; ligand 3 formed a 1:1 complex with Hg²⁺, but it formed a 2:3 complex with Ag⁺. The binding constant of ligand 3 with Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions was determined by the Benesi-Hildebrand plot of UV-vis titration experiments to be 2.99 × 10³ and 3.83 × 10³ M⁻¹, respectively, while the association constant of ligand 8 with Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ was determined by Hill plot to be 1.46 × 10¹² and 9.24 × 10¹¹ M⁻², respectively. Ligand 8 forms a strong complex with either two Hg²⁺ or two Ag⁺ ions using both the upper and lower rims of the 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene as the binding pockets; hence, it represents one of the highly selective fluorescent sensors for the homoditropic sensing of Hg²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions.

Anthryl-1,2,4-oxadiazole-substituted calix[4]arenes as highly selective fluorescent chemodosimeters for Fe(3+)

Fluorescent chemosensors 1 and 2, with 1,2,4-oxadiazoles as the binding ligands and anthracene as the fluorophore, were synthesized through sequential 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of 25,27-dioxyacetonitrilecalix[4]arenes 8 and 11. The fluorescence of 1 was severely quenched by both Fe(3+) and Cu(2+) , whereas that of 2 was selectively quenched only by Fe(3+) . Control compound 4 was also selectively quenched by Fe(3+) , which implied the importance of anthryl-1,2,4-oxadiazole core; furthermore, it was shown to give various oxidation products such as oxanthrone 13, anthraquinone 14, and imidazolyl oxanthrone 15. In addition to product separation and identification, the fluorescent quenching mechanism of these 9-anthryl-1,2,4-oxadiazolyl derivatives by Fe(3+) is also discussed. Furthermore, it should be noted that the oxadiazole-substituted anthracene 4 and calix[4]arene 2 are Fe(3+) -selective fluorescent chemodosimeters without the interference by Cu(2+) .

25-Allyloxy-5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-26,27,28-trihydroxycalix[4]arene chloroform disolvate

In the title solvated calixarene, C(47)H(60)O(4) x 2 CHCl(3), the host chalice displays an almost undistorted cone conformation, stabilized by three strong O-H...O hydrogen bonds at the calixarene's lower rim. One chloroform solvent molecule is fixed in the calixarene cavity by C-H...pi interactions, while the second is accommodated in a clathrate-like mode in elliptical packing voids. These voids are spanned by six host molecules connected via C-H...pi contacts and van der Waals interactions. Within the crystal structure, one tert-butyl group of the calixarene host is disordered over two orientations, with occupancies of 0.884 (4) and 0.116 (4). Furthermore, both solvent molecules show disorder, with occupancies of 0.857 (2) and 0.143 (2) for the cavitate-type, and 0.9359 (17) and 0.0641 (17) for the clathrate-type chloroform solvent molecules.

Triazole-Modified Calix[4]crown as a Novel Fluorescent On−Off Switchable Chemosensor

A novel fluorescent on-off switchable chemosensor 1 with two different types of cationic binding sites is synthesized, which is composed of a triazole-modified calix[4]crown in the 1,3-alternate conformation. Among 15 metal ions examined, the fluorescence of 1 was strongly quenched by Hg2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, and Pb2+; however, the revival of emission from the strongly quenched 1.Pb2+ complex was achievable by the addition of K+, Ba2+, or Zn2+ ions. Thus, metal ion exchange can trigger an on-off switchable fluorescent chemosensor.