Alkali metal cryptates

The dissociation rates for a number of alkali metal cryptates have been obtained in methanol and the values combined with measured stability constants to yield the corresponding formation rates. The latter increase monotonically with increasing cation size (with cryptand selectivity for these ions being reflected entirely in the dissociation rates - see later) (Cox, Schneider Stroka, 1978). 

For non-aqueous solvents, the formation rates for the alkali metal cryptates are not greatly solvent-dependent (Cox, Garcia-Rosas Schneider, 1981). However, a comparison of the rates for methanol with those for water indicates that the latter are considerably slower (Cox, van Truong Schneider, 1984) and are, indeed, much slower than expected... 

With alkali metal cryptates, cations and anions are well separated (except for the KNCS complex of [2.2.1] in which the ligand is too small to effectively shield the cation). Indeed the cryptated cation may be regarded as a very large, spheroidal cation (—10 A in diameter) of low surface charge density. 

Cryptands were found to react with metal solutions in basic solvents to generate the alkali metal cryptate and an alkali anion (alkalide), for example (Na[2.2.2])+Na (62, 63). 23Na-NMR measurements of this salt in methylamine, tetrahydrofuran, and ethylamine solutions showed that the Na resonance is shifted strongly upheld from the Na resonance (free or complexed) as shown in Fig. 7. The anion resonates at approximately the same frequency as that calculated for the free... 

The endo-endo conformation of cryptands can be internally protonated to form proton cryptates. With the small cryptands, e.g. [1.1.1]- and [2.1.1]-cryptand (15a and 15b), the two internal protons are so efficiently shielded from H2O and OH that deprotonation only very slowly occurs even in strong base (8UA6044). Alkali cation cryptates are able to stabilize unusual species as their counterions. Dye and coworkers have isolated several alkali metal anions by this method. The sodium species (Na [2.2.2]cryptand Na ) was obtained as gold metallic crystals and gave a Na NMR with a broad Na -cryptate resonance and a narrow, upheld Na resonance. The other alkali metals show similar behavior and an electride salt (Na [2.2.2]cryptand e l has even been isolated (B-79MI52105). Crystalline anionic clusters of the heavy post-transition metals (such as Sb7 , Pbs , Sng ) were first obtained with alkali metal cryptates as the counterions (75JA6267). 

Table 6.2. Rate and Equilibrium Parameters for the Formation of Alkali Metal Cryptates in Methanol at...

Alkali and alkaline earth metal cryptates. D. Parker, Adv. Inorg. Chem. Radiochem., 1983, 27, 1-26 (150). 

In water, the relatively low stability of the alkali metal and alkaline earth cryptates (except those for which there is a near-optimal fit of the cation in the intramolecular cavity) has resulted in difficulties in undertaking a wide-ranging kinetic study in this solvent. However, in non-aqueous media, the stability constants are larger and most of the studies have been performed in such media. 

As well as an acid-independent pathway, an acid-dependent pathway also occurs for the dissociation of a number of the alkali and alkaline earth metal cryptates (Table 7.1). Similar behaviour to that just discussed for methanol also occurs for reactions in a range of other non-aqueous solvents (Cox, Truong Schneider, 1984). 

Both macrocyclic and macrobicyclic ligands allow preparation of alkali metal solutions, but the former yield mainly M-, whereas solvated electrons are obtained with the [2]-cryptates (162,163). The enhancement of anion reactivity should also useful for activating anionic polymeriza-... 

Modem work on these and related bare post-transition element clusters began in the 1960s after Corbett and coworkers found ways to obtain crystalline derivatives of these post-transition element clusters by the use of suitable counterions. Thus, crystalline derivatives of the cluster anions had cryptate or polyamine complexed alkali metals as countercations [8]. Similarly, crystalline derivatives of the cluster cations had counteractions, such as AlCLj, derived from metal halide strong Lewis acids [9]. With crystalhne derivatives of these clusters available, their structures could be determined definitively using X-ray diffraction methods. 

Table 10 Rates and Selectivities of Alkali Metal Cation Transport via Cryptate Complexes...

As noted earlier, the similarities between H+ and alkali metal cations have led to the use of the former as a probe in biological studies, including studies with various macrocydic ligands, especially those with oxygen donor atoms. The thallium(I) cryptates behave kinetically like the potassium compounds, and the binding constants to 18-crown-6 have been measured by 205T1 NMR methods.347 Several Tl1 compounds with crown ethers (L) have been prepared in... 

Alkali metal and other cattonk cryptates have been known for a number of years. More recently, araonic cryptates have been characterized. Suggest a structure for JaNfCH2CH NHCH2CH2NHCH2CH2hN]. (See Footnote 112.)... 

It has been known for nearly 100 years that posttransilion metals dissolve in liquid ammonia in the presence of alkali metals to give highly colored anions.lw In the 1930s. polyatomic anions (Fig. 16.66a.b) such as Sni -, Pbj-, PbJ", Sb , and Bi were identified but not structurally characterized. Attempts at isolating crystals were unsuccessful because they decomposed in solution. This problem was overcome in 1975 by stabilizing the cation of the salt as a cryptate (see Chapter 12). e.g., [Na(crypt)J,Pb, and lNa(crypt)]4Sn9, which reduces the tendency of the salt to convert lo a metal alloy.166... 

Alkali metal anions have also been generated as a result of cryptand stabilization of the corresponding cation. Cryptands were found to enhance the solubility of zerovalent alkali metals in various organic solvents.156-157 Initially, the solutions apparently contain the cryptate cation and solvated electrons together with free ligand. When more metal is dissolved, metal anions, M , are formed.158 Dye and co-workers have isolated gold-colored crystals of [Na+ c 2.2.2]Na 159160 and the crystal structure has been determined.161,162 Anion clusters such as Sb] , Pb2 and Sn," have been isolated as crystalline salts of the [2.2.2] cryptate counterion [2.2.2].162,163... 

Of particular significance in this respect has been the ability to prepare, characterize and study most intriguing species, the alkalides [2.79, 2.80] and the electrides [2.80, 2.81] containing an alkali metal anion and an electron, respectively, as counterion of the complexed cation. Thus, cryptates are able to stabilize species such as the sodide [Na+ c 9]Na- and the electride [K+ c 9]e-. They have also allowed the isolation of anionic clusters of the heavy post-transition metals, as in ([K+ c cryp-tand]2 Pb52-) [2.82]. 

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