Molecular Architecture and Symmetry Properties of 1,3-Alternate Calix[4]arenes with Orientable Groups at the Para Position of the Phenolic Rings

Two glycoclusters constituted by four fully acetylated β-acetylmannosamine residues linked through trimethylenethioureido spacers to a calix[4]­arene core and differing for the presence of methoxy or propoxy groups at the lower rim were synthesized. One of the two compounds is fixed in the 1,3-alternate geometry by the presence of the propoxy groups, while the other is potentially free to assume one of the different geometries allowed in calix[4]­arene. Their similar NMR spectra in chloroform clearly suggest the same 1,3-alternate geometry. Both compounds were submitted to a conformational investigation with the DFT approach at the standard B3LYP/6-31G­(d) level. The two glycocalixarenes showed a large conformational preference for the same geometry that put the mannosamine moiety of one substituent close to the thioureido group of the opposite substituent. This allows the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds and originates a series of through-space close contacts. A comparison with the NOESY maps evidence an excellent correspondence between experimental and theoretical data, thus giving an experimental validation of the highly symmetrical conformation that the two glycocalixarenes assume in apolar solvents

Actinide–lanthanide co-extraction by rigidified diglycolamides

<p>Within the actinide and lanthanide co-extraction strategy, three rigidified diglycolamides, namely 2,6-bis (<i>N</i>-dodecyl-carboxamide)-4-oxo-4<i>H</i>-pyran (<b>1</b>), 2,6-bis-[<i>N</i>-(4-<i>tert</i>-butylphenyl)carboxamide]-4-oxo-4<i>H</i>-pyran (<b>2</b>), 2,6-​bis[(<i>N</i>-docecyl-<i>N</i>-methyl)carboxamide]-​4-methoxy-​tetrahydro-pyran (<b>3</b>), were synthesized. Moreover, the effect of structural rigidification on Am(III) and Eu(III) extraction under different conditions was investigated. The carboxamide extractant <b>3</b> resembles the extracting behavior of <i>N,N,N</i>′,<i>N</i>′‐tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) in terms of efficiency and affinity within the lanthanide family, together with fast kinetics and satisfactory cation back-extraction. The presence of 1-octanol in the diluent mixture strongly affects the ligand stability. Moreover, despite the low extraction efficiency showed by <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, all the three ligands exhibit a higher affinity for Am with respect to TODGA, resulting in a lower lanthanide/Americium separation factor, of around 4 for ligand <b>3</b> and close to 1 for ligands <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>.</p