Ion pair cooperative binding of potassium salts by new rhenium(I) bipyridine crown ether receptors

The new rhenium(I) bipyridine crown ether receptors 1-4 have been prepared and their ion pair recognition properties examined. The crystal structure of [1 . KCl](2). 2H(2)O demonstrates that potassium is coordinated by benzo-18-crown-6 and chloride is hydrogen bonded to the amide groups. Receptor 3 extracts solid KCl and KOAc into chloroform via ion pair complexation. NMR and emission titration studies with receptors 1-4 and KCl/KOAc show that cobound potassium enhances anion binding strength by electrostatic and conformational effects. Significant cooperative interactions are observed between the anion and cation sites for host 4 in CH3CN. This molecule coordinates potassium to form a 1:1 intramolecular sandwich complex, which preorganizes the host for acetate binding.