Coordination of lanthanide cations to a symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril in the presence of tetrachlorozincate facilitates isolation of lighter lanthanides

•Precipitation vs crystallization offer a metheod to separate different lanthanides.•Higher yields and short time periods to yield precipitation.•Crastals were characterised by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Coordination of lanthanide cations (Ln3+) and a symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril (1,4-DiCyHQ[6]) in the presence of tetrachlorozincate was investigated. X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis revealed that with [ZnCl4]2− anions as a structure directing agent, the interaction of lighter lanthanide cations and 1,4-DiCyHQ[6] results in the formation of fast precipitation, whereas the interaction of heavier lanthanide cations and 1,4-DiCyHQ[6] results in solid crystals. This provides a potential strategy for separating lighter and heavier lanthanide cations.

Graphical abstractThe interaction of lighter lanthanide cations and a symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril (1,4-DiCyHQ[6]) results in the fast precipitation in the presence of tetrachlorozincate, providing a potential strategy of isolation lighter lanthanide cations from heavier counterparts.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide