Narrow rim CMPO/adamantylcalix[4]arenes for the extraction of lanthanides and actinides

Six p-(1-adamantyl)calix[4]arenes 7, 8 with four differently attached diphenyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) functions at the narrow rim were synthesized. This series was extended by adamantylcalix[4]arenes with two CMPO and two ester, acid or (diethylphosphono)acetylamino groups. Structures of new compounds were proved by NMR, mass-spectrometry and a single-crystal X-ray analysis for the intermediate di-phthalimide 103. The extraction studies towards selected lanthanides and thorium showed that the ligands 7 surpassed the corresponding p-H, p-tert-butyl and p-tert-octyl analogues 3–5 in lanthanide extraction while thorium was extracted with the same or lesser extent. For the lanthanide extraction DLn(74)>DLn(73)≈DLn(72), which follows the order established earlier for ligands 3–5. Among the tetra-CMPO derivatives of type 8, the ligand 83/4 was the best extractant for which the DLn and DTh values were comparable with those for 74.