1,3-Dialkoxycalix[4]arenecrowns-6 in 1,3-Alternate Conformation: Cesium-Selective Ligands that Exploit Cation-Arene Interactions

Exceptionally high selectivity for cesium ions (α(Cs/Na) > 33000) is displayed by calix[4]arenecrowns‐6 in the 1,3‐alternate conformation. They also remove 137Cs quantitatively (>96%) from radioactive waste that is 1 M in HNO3. The complexation properties result from the simultaneous operation of several effects: the size of the crown ether ring, the polarity of the calix conformation, and the strength of the cation/π‐electron interactions. The latter interaction was evident in the X‐ray crystal structure of the cesium complex (shown on the right).