Multifunctional p-phosphonated calixarenes

p-Phosphonic acid calix[n]arenes and their O-alkylated lower rim analogues are remarkably versatile macrocycles, with applications in selective diameter uptake of single walled carbon nano-tubes, as surfactants in stabilising and protecting nano-particles and graphene sheets, as crystal growth modifiers for inorganic systems, in encapsulating molecules of anti-cancer carboplatin, self assembly into nano-arrays, including nano-fibres and molecular capsules, and for binding metal ions including biologically relevant Ca(2+). They are readily accessible via five or six high yielding steps from the parent p-Bu(t) substituted compounds.

Organization of lower rim O-alkylated p-phosphonic acid calix[4]arenes

Lower rim O-methyl, -n-butyl, and n-octadecyl calix[4]arenes bearing p-phosphonic acid groups on the upper rim have been prepared in high yield, compounds 12-14. Where possible the compounds have been characterized in the solid state using X-ray diffraction, or as the precursor phosphate esters or a cesium salt. The cone conformation ethyl phosphate ester for the octadecyl compound crystallizes in a bi-layer 39.1 A thick which approaches the 40 A of biological membranes. The 1,3-alternate cone conformation of the cesium salt of the O-methyl phosphonic acid has a metal ion coordinated to two methoxy groups, four O-P (two from neighboring calixarenes), and two eta(3)-C(3) moieties from two 1,3-disposed aromatic rings. MALDI-TOF spectra of compounds 12-14 show successive peaks corresponding to 15, 33 and 16 calixarene units, which is consistent with the intra-molecular H-bonding capabilities of the di-protic phosphonic acid groups where the calixarenes are arranged into layers, including bilayers.

Ionic dimeric pyrogallol[4]arene capsules

Ionic capsules based on dimeric arrangements of pyrogallol[4]arenes have been structurally authenticated and suggest that there is a degree of flexibility in capsule formation with further potential for multiple guest encapsulation and manipulation in such arrangements.

Transmembraneion transport by calixarenes and their derivatives

Regulation of transmembrane ion transport is a vital aspect of bioinorganic chemistry. To understand how this highly selective process occurs, how it can become impaired and how impairment may be treated, model compounds are useful tools. Several systems are presently being explored but one of the most widely applicable combines a rigid macrocycle, capable of size-based ion recognition, with membrane-spanning substituents that allow the target ions to traverse a phospholipid bilayer. The calixarene class of macrocycles is ideally suited to this task. This article sets out the biological background to transmembrane ion transport, the methods available to study the phenomenon, examples of model compounds, and proposes areas of further study.