Study of complexation between two 1,3-alternate calix[4]crown derivatives and alkali metal ions by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations

Complexation of two 1,3-alternate calix[4]crown ligands with alkali metals (K+, Rb+ and Cs+) has been investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and density functional theory calculations. The binding selectivities of the ligands and the binding constants of their complexes in solution have been determined using the obtained mass spectra. Also the percentage of each formed complex species in the mixture of each ligand and alkali metal has been experimentally evaluated. For both calix[4]crown-5 and calix[4]crown-6 ligands the experimental and theoretical selectivity of their alkali metal complexes found to follow the trend K+ > Rb+ > Cs+. The structures of ligands were optimized by DFT-B3LYP/6-31G method and the structures of complexes were obtained by QM-SCF-MO/PM6 method and discussed in the text.