Electrochemistry and ion-sensing properties of calix[4]arene derivatives

The cyclic voltammetric properties of several substituted calix[4]arenes were examined in acetonitrile and dichloromethane. The compounds that contained one phenolic group in the macrocyclic cavity were able to be electrochemically oxidised at positive potentials. In acetonitrile, cyclic voltammetry experiments indicated that the phenolic compounds were oxidised in a two-electron (one-proton) process over all measured scan rates (up to 50 V s−1), while in dichloromethane, the oxidation process occurred by one-electron at scan rates ≥5 V s−1, to most likely form the radical cations. In both solvents, longer timescale (minutes to hours) controlled potential coulometry experiments indicated that the oxidation process occurred by two-electrons per molecule, to form reactive diamagnetic cations that could not be reduced back to the starting materials under electrolysis conditions. The ion-sensing properties of the compounds were investigated in polymer membrane ion-selective electrodes and it was found that they responded reversibly in a Nernstian fashion to Groups 1 and 2 metals and had the highest selectivity to the cesium cation.