Calix[4]arenes as selective extracting agents. An NMR dynamic and conformational investigation of the lanthanide(III) and thorium(IV) complexes

The lanthanide and Th4+ complexes with calix[4]arene ligands substituted ei ther on the narrow or at the wide rim by four coordinating groups behave to tally differently as shown by an NMR investigation of the dia- and paramagn etic complexes. Solutions of complexes were prepared by reacting anhydrous metal perchlorate salts with the ligands in dry acetonitrile (CAUTION). Rel axation time T-1 titrations of acetonitrile solutions of Gd3+ by calixarene s indicate that ligands substituted on the narrow rim form stable 1:1 compl exes whether they feature four amide groups (1) or four phosphine oxide fun ctions. In contrast, a ligand substituted by four (carbamoylmethyl)diphenyl phosphine oxide moieties on the wide rim (3) and its derivatives form polym eric species even at a 1:1 ligand/metal concentration ratio. Nuclear magnet ic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) curves (relaxation rates 1/T-1 vs magnetic field strength) of Gd3+, Gd3+.1 and Gd3+.3 perchlorates in acetonitrile are analyzed by an extended version of the Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan equation s. A comparison of the calculated rotational correlation times tau(r) shows that ligand 3 forms oligomeric Gd3+ species. The chelates of ligand 1 are axially symmetric (C-4 symmetry), and the paramagnetic shifts induced by th e Yb3+ ion are accounted for quantitatively. The addition of water or of ni trate ions does not modify the geometry of the complex. The metal chelates of 3 and its derivatives adopt a C-2 symmetry, and the paramagnetic shifts are interpreted on a semiquantitative basis only. Water and NO3- ions compl etely labilize the complexes of the heavy lanthanides. The very high select ivity of ligand 3 through the lanthanide series stems from a complex interp lay of factors.