Molecular Recognition by Monoboronic Acid Derivatives

A new class of host molecules for the selective complexation of salts [237], alcohols [238], amines [239], and catecholamines [240] has been designed by combining crown ethers of different sizes with a boronic acid or boronate (Figs. 39 and 40). 

In this way hosts 141-145 with both a cr-bonded Lewis acidic boron atom for complexation of anions and a conventional multidentate ligand for cations are generated. Complexation experiments of the 21-membered crown [6] boronate 142 with different potassium salts KX (X = F, Cl, Br, I, SCN, CN, OMe) indicate that there is a high specificity for the incorporation of KF, whereby F is bound covalently to the boron atom and is complexed by the crown ether (146, Fig. 39). An X-ray study has shown that the complexation of KF is heterotopic, i.e., both ions are complexed inside the same host. Some of the salts can only be bound in a monotopic way (KI and KSCN) [237]. 

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 

The slightly modified host 148 is able to bind catecholamines with high selectivity (Fig. 40). 

---