Metal ion complexation and separation by crown ether compounds

The objective of this research is to probe the influence of structural variations within macrocyclic multidentate ligands upon their interactions with metal ions. For this evaluation mono-, bi-, and triphasic experimental systems will be utilized. The biphasic (picrate extraction technique) and the triphasic (bulk liquid membrane transport technique) systems all employ neutral ligands. The monophasic system (titration calorimetry) uses proton-ionizable lariat ethers.