Inorganic anion receptors electrostatic interactions

The first ester functionalized cobaltocenium receptor (74) developed by us in 1989, was based solely on electrostatic interactions (as discussed earlier) (9, 186). It was therefore decided to append the cobaltocenium moiety with secondary amide functionalized arms . In this manner, the receptors became more resistant to hydrolysis (a recurrent problem with ester-based systems), and also incorporated neutral hydrogen-bond donors capable of coordinating anions. [An interaction between a secondary amide (acetamide) and the bromide anion was physically investigated (by IR spectroscopy) as long ago as 1961 (211)]. We made the first report of this novel type of receptor (91 and 92) in 1992 (212), which was, in fact, the first class of inorganic anion receptor that incorporated hydrogen-bonding functionalities. 

The ditopic receptor 119 has been shown to bind both inorganic anions and alkali metal cations simultaneously (233). Selectivity was observed for HS04-over CP and the binding of alkali metal cations in the crown ethers was proven to substantially enhance the magnitude of anion binding (through electrostatic interaction). 

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