Cation-binding hosts crown ethers

These compounds are polyethers and therefore are capable of serving as hosts for metal cations, much like crown ethers. These polyethers are called ionophores because the internal cavity is capable of binding a metal ion. The outside surface of the ionophore is hydrocarbon-like (or lipophilic), allowing it to pass through cell membranes readily. 

Alcohols can be selectively bound to the same host type if they are combined with an amine and vice versa, considering that a cation and an anion will be formed through a proton transfer. The so-formed alkoxide anion will bind to the boron atom, while the ammonium ion will be complexed by the crown ether (147, Fig. 39). Competition experiments involving benzyl-amine have shown enhanced selectivity for the complexation of alcohols with... 

Pedersen and Frensdorff studied the binding and extraction of the cation by crown ethers, which require coextraction of an anion. Without the presence of an anion host, solvation directs selectivity, giving rise to Hofmeister bias selectivity favoring low anion charge density. Anions initially in aqueous solution must be dehydrated (at least partially) and are then resolvated in the solvent phase. Empirically, the HBD ability of the solvent medium is the single most important determinant of the solvation of small, inorganic anions.100... 

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