Cryptands crown ethers

Because of their electrophilic nature, Li" cations accelerate the reduction of carbonyl compounds by LiAlH4 or NaBH4. Li -complexing agents, such as cryptands, crown ethers or polyamines decrease the rate of reduction. In the case of a,p-unsaturated ketones, this slow down is associated with altered regioselectivity. For example, L1A1H4 reduction of cyclohexenones in the absence of the cryptand proceeds predominantly with 1,2-reduction. In the presence of the cryptand, 1,4-attack is favored. This selectivity is more pronounced with LiAlHa than with NaBHa (Scheme 36) and is also dependent on solvent. For example, with diethyl ether the 1,2-attack prevails, whereas when the cation is complexed, 1,4-addition predominates. 

The late 60 s and the early 70 s saw the advent of the first artificial molecules where these concepts were fully utilised, the crown ethers and their sequels the cryptands. Crown ethers or coronands are hetero-cyclic structures where the hetero-atoms are separated with C2-units cryptands are bicyclic analogues... 

Catalytic activity apparently follows an order similar to that for soluble catalysts, i.e. cryptands > crown ethers and quaternary salts, under the same reaction conditions As expected, crown ethers differ in activity from quaternary salts,... 

Fig. 7. Crown type and analogous receptor molecules of different varieties (1) crown ethers (2) cryptands (3) a podand (4) a spherand and (5) the natural...

Podates AcycHc analogues of crown ethers /coronands and cryptands (podands, eg, (11) (30) are also capable of forming inclusion compounds (podates) with cations and uncharged organic molecules, the latter being endowed with a hydrogen bond fiinctionahty. Podates normally are less stable than coronates and cryptates but have favorable kinetics. 

A method for the polymerization of polysulfones in nondipolar aprotic solvents has been developed and reported (9,10). The method reUes on phase-transfer catalysis. Polysulfone is made in chlorobenzene as solvent with (2.2.2)cryptand as catalyst (9). Less reactive crown ethers require dichlorobenzene as solvent (10). High molecular weight polyphenylsulfone can also be made by this route in dichlorobenzene however, only low molecular weight PES is achievable by this method. Cross-linked polystyrene-bound (2.2.2)cryptand is found to be effective in these polymerizations which allow simple recovery and reuse of the catalyst. 

In 1967, DuPont chemist Charles J. Pedersen (21) discovered a class of ligands capable of complexing alkaU metal cations, a discovery which led to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987. These compounds, known as crown ethers or cryptands, allow gready enhanced solubiUty of sodium and other alkaU metals in amines and ethers. About 50 crown ethers having between 9—60 membered oligoether rings were described (22). Two such stmctures, dibenzo-18-crown-6 (1) and benzo-9-crown-3 (2), are shown. 

The need for simple descriptions of complicated organic ligands has led to the evolution of some trivial nomenclature systems, such as those for crown ethers (e.g. 76) 72AG(E)16) and cryptands 73MI10200), which have become quite elaborate 8OMII0200). These systems are intended primarily to indicate topology, and the positions of potential donor atoms, and are not particularly appropriate for general use. 

The terms crown and cryptand have been universally adopted. A number of other terms have enjoyed less widespread recognition as noted above. Recently, Vogtle and Weber have proposed use of the terms crown ether, cryptand and podand according to the following scheme. Their suggested definitions are as follows ... 

Of these terms, the names crown ether, cryptand and cryptate are in general usage. 

A number of bridged crown ethers have been prepared. Although the Simmons-Park in-out bicyclic amines (see Sect. 1.3.3) are the prototype, Lehn s cryptands (see Chap. 8) are probably better known. Intermediates between the cryptands (which Pedersen referred to as lanterns ) and the simple monoazacrowns are monoazacrowns bridged by a single hydrocarbon strand. Pedersen reports the synthesis of such a structure (see 7, below) which he referred to as a clam compound for the obvious reason . Although Pedersen appears not to have explored the binding properties of his clam in any detail, he did attempt to complex Na and Cs ions. A 0.0001 molar solution of the clam compound is prepared in ethanol. The metal ions Na and Cs are added to the clam-ethanol solutions as salts. Ultraviolet spectra of these solutions indicate that a small amount of the Na is complexed by the clam compound but none of the Cs . 

In specific applications to phase transfer catalysis, Knbchel and his coworkers compared crown ethers, aminopolyethers, cryptands, octopus molecules ( krakenmole-kiile , see below) and open-chained polyether compounds. They determined yields per unit time for reactions such as that between potassium acetate and benzyl chloride in acetonitrile solution. As expected, the open-chained polyethers were inferior to their cyclic counterparts, although a surprising finding was that certain aminopolyethers were superior to the corresponding crowns. 

The bulk of the work which has been performed on open-chained crown ether and cryptand equivalents, especially for application to general cation binding studies has been accomplished by Vogtle and his coworkers. Vogtle has reviewed both his own and other work in this field . 

In later work, Vogtle and his coworkers prepared analogs of both crown ethers and cryptands. These molecules are designed to have a terminal donor group which is capable of offering a complexed cation additional binding sites. Numerous... 

We do not discuss in detail the cases of tautomerism of heterocycles embedded in supramolecular structures, such as crown ethers, cryptands, and heterophanes, because such tautomerism is similar in most aspects to that displayed by the analogous monocyclic heterocycles. We concentrate here on modifications that can be induced by the macrocyclic cavity. Tire so-called proton-ionizable crown ethers have been discussed in several comprehensive reviews by Bradshaw et al. [90H665 96CSC(1)35 97ACR338, 97JIP221J. Tire compounds considered include tautomerizable compounds such as 4(5)-substituted imidazoles 1///4//-1,2,4-triazoles 3-hydroxy-pyridines and 4-pyridones. 

Heumann, K. G. Isotopic Separation in Systems with Crown Ethers and Cryptands. 127, 77-132 (1985). 

Under carefully controlled conditions even complex molecules can be fluorinated. For example, the preparation of perfluoro-crown ethers (85CC1350) and perfluoro(2.2.2.)-cryptand (90JOC5933) has been described. Branched morpholines and piperazines have been directly fluorinated to their perfluoro analogues [90JFC(50)15],... 

Compounds which produce a complex with Li+ ions have been investigated. The compounds examined were N,N,N, N tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), eth-ylenediamine, crown ethers, cryptand [211], diglyme, triglyme, tetraglyme, eth-ylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and EDTA-Li+ (n=l, 2, 3) complexes [59]. The cycling efficiency was improved by adding TMEDA, but the other additives did not show distinct effects. 

Crown Ethers and Other Cryptands. We saw in Chapter 3 that certain cryptands are able to surround certain cations. In effect, a salt like KCN is converted by dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 into a new salt (96) whose anion is the same, but whose cation is now a much larger species with the positive charge... 

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