Novel macrocycles. Part 6. Synthesis, structures and cation binding from optical spectroscopy of 9,10-anthraquinone-crown ethers

The 9,10-anthraquinone-[12]crown-4, [15]crown-5 and [18]crown-6 derivatives were synthesized from 1,2-dihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone and 1,8-dihydroxy-9 ,10-anthraquinone which were condensed with dihalides or ditosylates of pol yethylene glycols in alkali carbonate/DMSO. The 9,10-anthraquinone derived polyoxacyclo-alkanes were characterized with IR, mass spectrometry, H-1, C- 13 spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The cation binding properties were studied with UV-vis spectroscopy. The association constants found in aceton itrile were selectively dependent on the cation radius and macrocycle size as well as the molecular structures. The observed results from UV-vis studi es, however, showed the stronger complexing role of 1,2-derived macrocycles compared to those of 1,8-derivatives. The theoretical conformational analy sis and the energy optimisations of the 9,10-anthraquinone-macrocycles carr ied out with MM+ method explained the binding results.