Stereoisomerism and complexation behaviour of functionalized p-tert-calix[6]-1,4-2,5-biscrown-4

p-tert-Calix[6]-1,4-2,5-biscrown-4 was subjected to functionalization by benzyl bromide or ethyl bromoacetate. Two pairs of disubstituted calix[6]biscrown stereoisomers were obtained. Their structures had been deduced from 1H NMR and ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy). One of the bisethyloxycarbonylmethylated derivatives 3a was further investigated by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Two-phase extraction experiments indicated that bisethyloxycarbonylmethylated derivatives exhibited high Cs+/Na+ selectivity. By ESI-MS and 1H NMR experiments it was confirmed that 3a formed 1:1 complex with Cs+.