Polyether metal binding

The examples given here of the use of MM in synthesis are taken from the review by Lipkowitz and Peterson [28]. In attempts to simulate the metal-binding ability of biological acyclic polyethers, the tricyclic 1 (Fig. 3.12) and a tetracyclic analogue were synthesized, using as a guide the indication from MM that these molecules resemble the cyclic polyether 18-crown-6, which binds the potassium ion the acyclic compounds were found to be indeed comparable to the crown ether in metal-binding ability. 

The cholates 8.117-8.119 were designed for the preparation of dynamic hbraries with different binding affinities for alkah metal ions. The presence of a polyether chain in position 7 of 8.117 provided a recognition element for metal binding that was absent from the disubstituted p-methoxybenzyl substitution pattern of 8.118, while the 7-deoxy derivative 8.119 was even less prone to metal coordination. The three monomers were submitted to transesterification/cyclization protocols, either without metal templates or using different alkali metal salts as templates. The relative abundances of cyclic dimers, trimers, tetramers, and pentamers for each experiment are reported in Table 8.7. 

A cartoon of a fluorescent switch , turned on or off (quenched) depending on the absence or presence of a metal ion. The ionophore (the cyclic polyether) is the metal-binding component, the fluorophore (the fused-ring aromatic unit) is the component activated by light. Complexation stops electron transfer that otherwise quenches fluorescence. 

A1 Obaidi, N., Beer, P.D., Bright, J.P., Charsley, S.M., Jones, C.J., McCleverty, J.A., and Salam S.S. (1986) "Ilie synthesis and electrochemistry of novel redox-responsive molybdenum complexes containing cyclic polyether cation binding sites, J.Chem.Soc.Chem.Comm., 239-41 Beer, P.D., Jones, C.J., McCleverty, J.A. and Salam, S.S. (1987) Redox-responsive metal complexes containing cation binding sites, JJncl.Phenom., 5, 521-4. 

The cation-binding ability of an azo-benzene-bridged crown ether is altered when the frons-azobenzene is photoisomerized to the cis derivative. The incorporation of a bipyridyl function in a crown ether presents two possible co-ordination sites for metal ions (10) the polyether, which binds alkali metal ions, and the 2,2 -bipyridyl... 

The size of the cavity in the crown ether can be tailored to allow for the selective binding of only certain cations—namely, those whose ionic radius is best accommodated by the polyether. This concept has been extended successfully into three dimensions by the synthesis of polycyclic ethers, also called cryptands (kryptos, Greek, hidden), which are highly selective in alkali and other metal binding (Figure 9-4). The significance of these... 

Almost as soon as Pedersen announced his discovery of the crown ethers (see Chaps. 2 and 3) it was recognized by many that these species were similar to those prepared by Busch and coworkers for binding coinage and transition metals (see Sect. 2.1). The latter compounds contained all or a predominance of nitrogen and sulfur (see also Chap. 6) in accordance with their intended use. The crown ethers and the polyazamacrocycles represented two extremes in cation binding ability and preparation of the intermediate compounds quickly ensued. In the conceptual sense, monoazacrowns are the simplest variants of the macrocyclic polyethers and these will be discussed first. 

The crowns as model carriers. Many studies involving crown ethers and related ligands have been performed which mimic the ion-transport behaviour of the natural antibiotic carriers (Lamb, Izatt Christensen, 1981). This is not surprising, since clearly the alkali metal chemistry of the cyclic antibiotic molecules parallels in many respects that of the crown ethers towards these metals. As discussed in Chapter 4, complexation of an ion such as sodium or potassium with a crown polyether results in an increase in its lipophilicity (and a concomitant increase in its solubility in non-polar organic solvents). However, even though a ring such as 18-crown-6 binds potassium selectively, this crown is expected to be a less effective ionophore for potassium than the natural systems since the two sides of the crown complex are not as well-protected from the hydro-phobic environment existing in the membrane. 

The free electron pair(s) in the concave pyridines 3 (Table 1), 13 (s. Scheme 3) and 29 (s. Scheme 5) and especially in the concave 1,10-phenanthrolines 11 (s. Scheme 2) and 21 (Structures 3) are not only able to bind a proton, they may also be used to coordinate a metal ion. For concave 1,10-phenanthrolines 11 and 21, transition metal complexes 87 (Structure 11) have already been generated [18, 55]. They form readily in acetonitrile solution with binding constants of 10 10 and larger. Of great importance is the nature of the chains X in the concave 1,10-phenanthrolines 21 (Structures 3). Pure aliphatic chains lead to smaller association constants than polyether chains. 

The findings that, both in ester and amide cleavage, an alkaline-earth metal ion is still catalytically active when complexed with a crown ether, and that a fraction of the binding energy made available by coordinative interactions with the polyether chain can be translated into catalysis, provide the basis for the construction of supramolecular catalysts capable of esterase and amidase activity. 

The sample kinetic data listed in Table 5.2 shows that the size of rate enhancement critically depends on the substrate-metal ion combination, and is markedly influenced by the solvent. The largest effect is displayed by 2-AcO-21 C6, which reacts with EtOBaBr half a million times faster than with EtONMe4. The conclusion was reached [6] that the huge rate enhancements observed in the ethanolysis reactions are a consequence of the fact that not only cation-anion electrostatic binding but also coordinative binding to the polyether chain in the metal-bound transition states are much more efficient in EtOH than in MeOH. 

Copolymers of methacrylic add and ethylene termed as ethylene ionomers have been used as the base polymer for binding alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal ions. Organic amines such as n-hexylamine, hexamethylene tetraamine, 2,2,6,6-tetramethyM-hydroxy piperazine, ethylene diamine and polymeric diamines such as silicone diamine, polyether diamine and polymeric diamines such as silicone diamine, polyether diamine and polyamide oligomers considerably enhance the complex formation characteristics of Zn(II) ethylene ionomers thereby enhancing the physico-chemical properties [13]. 

Ionophores, or polyether (PET) antibiotics, produced by various species of Streptomyces, possess broad spectrum anticoccidial activities. They are chemically characterized by several cyclic esters, a single terminal carboxylic acid group, and several hydroxyl groups. Representative members of this class include salinomycin (SAL), monensin (MON), lasalocid (LAS), narasin (NAR), maduramicin (MAD), and semduramicin (SEM). The main chemical properties of interest in the extraction methodology are their low polarities and instability under acidic conditions. They are able to form stable complexes with alkaline cations. All of these compounds, with the exception of LAS, bind monovalent cations (e.g., Na+ and K+). Lasalocid has a tendency to form dimers and can form complexes with divalent cations such as Mg2+ and Ca2+. The formation of metal complexes results in all of these compounds adopting a quasi-cyclic formation consequent to head-to-tail hydrogen bonding. No MRLs have yet been set by the EU for any of the carboxylic acid PETs (98). 

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