Host-guest assembly of ligand systems for metal ion complexation. Synergistic solvent extraction of copper(II) and silver(I) by 1,4,8,11-tetrabenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclodecane in combination with carboxylic acids.
Host-guest formation between 1,4,8,11-tetrabenzyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclodecane (1) and lipophilic organic carboxylic acids in chloroform has been investigated and the effect of such ligand assembly on the solvent extraction of copper(II) and silver(I) has been probed. NMR titration experiments in the absence of a metal ion confirm the formation of weak 1:1 and 1:2 (macrocycle:carboxylic acid) assemblies in CDCl(3) between 1 and palmitic (hexadecanoic) acid or 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid while difunctional salicylic acid showed a 1 [ratio] 2 interaction that is somewhat stronger. The interaction between the former two acids and the tetra-N-benzylated macrocycle is significantly less than that reported previously for its non-substituted parent, cyclam; a result that likely reflects the presence of the less-basic, more sterically hindered tertiary nitrogens in 1 relative to the secondary nitrogens present in cyclam. Carboxylic acid-containing assemblies of this type have been used as extractants in a series of solvent extraction (water/chloroform) experiments. From both previous observations as well as from entropy considerations, it was anticipated that the use of a host-guest assembly of the above type for metal-ion complexation might contribute to enhanced metal ion binding (and concomitant enhanced metal ion extraction). Such behaviour is postulated to arise from the components of the coordination sphere being, at least in part, assembled for complex formation. In accord with this, the use of the ligand assembly involving palmitic acid/macrocycle 1 was found to lead to enhanced (synergistic) extraction of copper(II) at a metal ion concentration of 10(-3) mol dm(-3) while, for silver(I), synergism was somewhat marginal at this concentration but was clearly apparent under related conditions when the silver concentration was reduced to 10(-4) mol dm(-3). Similar behaviour towards silver was also observed when 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid was substituted for palmitic acid, while the use of salicylic acid resulted in enhanced (synergistic) extraction at both metal ion concentrations.
Macrocyclic ligand design. Interaction of a series of successively N-benzylated derivatives of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) with copper(II) and nickel(II)
The interaction of a series of N-benzylated cyclam ligand derivatives incorporating from one to four benzyl groups with nickel(II) and copper(II) is reported. The isolation of a selection of 1 : 1 (metal : ligand) complexes of both metals has been carried out and visible spectral, EPR, electrochemical and X-ray determinations have been employed to probe the nature of the respective complexes in both the solid state and in solution. Emphasis has been given to investigating the effect of the successive N-benzylation along this ligand series on the properties of the above complexes. The UV–VIS spectra obtained for each series of metal complexes indicate that the sequential introduction of N-benzyl substituents produces a change to lower ligand fields of the corresponding macrocyclic tetramines. Cyclic voltammograms of both the nickel(II) 
(low-spin) and copper(II) complexes both yield evidence for M(III)/M(II) as well as M(II)/M(I) couples in acetonitrile.
First diamino Daphniphyllum alkaloid, daphnipaxinin, with an unprecedented heterohexacyclic skeleton from Daphniphyllum paxianum.
[structure: see text] The first diamino Daphniphyllum alkaloid, daphnipaxinin (1), with an unprecedented hexacyclic fused skeleton, along with a known alkaloid, daphnicyclidin A (2), was isolated from the stem of Daphniphyllum paxianum Rosenth. The structure and absolute stereochemistry of 1 were established by spectral methods, especially two-dimensional NMR techniques and CD analysis.