Aminopyridyl derivative of thiacalix[4]arene-carboxylic acid as ionizable highly selective Ag+ ionophore

A novel mono-ionizable receptor 2 possessing three aminopyridyl and one carboxylic group in 1,3-alternate conformation based on thiacalix[4]arene, confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis, was prepared. For competitive solvent extraction of alkali metal (Na + , K + and Cs + ) and some transition metal (Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , TI + , Ag + ) cations from aqueous solutions into chloroform, it was found that the introduction of proton-ionizable group (carboxylic acid moiety) into the aminopyridyl-thiacalix[4]arene derivative could further improve its Ag + extractability with high selectivity.