The extraction of thallium (I) and silver (I) ions with 1,3-alternate calix[4]arene derivatives

Abstract

Tetraallyloxy and tetrabenzyloxy derivatives of calix[4]arenes in cone and 1,3-alternate conformations were synthesised and their capacity to extract thallium(I) and silver(I) ions was investigated. 'Low'-temperature single crystal X-ray structure determinations were recorded for two derivatives in which the calixarene conformation was that of an alternating cone, the aromatic rings lying closely quasi-parallel to the 4-axis of the cone. The structure of a tetraallyloxy derivative in the cone conformation was also determined in which a molecule of acetonitrile was included within the calixarene cavity.