New water-soluble calix[4]arene-based bipyridyl podands incorporating carboxylate groups

New calixarene-based bis-bipyridyl podands incorporating two sodium (4-oxo)-butanoate or four sodium carboxymethyl groups at the upper rim were synthesised and fully characterised. The (4-oxo)-butanoate derivative bearing unsubstituted bipyridyl arms was not soluble in water at neutral pH, while its 4,4′-dicarboxylate analogue was perfectly soluble, as were the carboxymethyl derivatives. The association of water solubility to the chelating behaviour of the bipyridyl subunits resulted in the ability to complex the unstable copper(I) cation in water, even in the presence of bovine serum albumin.