Selective Bridging of Calix[6]arene : Synthesis of 1,2-Calix[6]dioxocrowns

Treating p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene with oligoethylene glycol bischloroacetates, a series of ester-containing 1,2-bridged calix[6]crowns have been synthesized in reasonable yields for the first time. The longer the spacer in bischloroacetates, the higher the yield. The extraction ability towards alkali metal and ammonium cations of the obtained 1,2-calix[6]dioxocrowns are superior to that of 1,2-calix[6]crown-5.