Towards promising oxoanion extractants: azacages and open-chain counterparts

The efficiency of a series of amino-azacryptands for encapsulation and extraction of the oxoanions pertechnetate and perrhenate from aqueous solution is investigated and compared with that of their open-chain counterparts. The aqueous formation constants for oxoanion association with the cryptands were determined by pH potentiometry and/or NMR, and X-ray analysis of single crystals provides evidence for encapsulation. The extractabilities could not be explained solely on the basis of ligand lipophilicity; the level of protonation also plays an important role.