Surprisingly stable ammonium ion complex of a non-cyclic crown-type polyether: solid and solution studies

Abstract

The first crystal structure of an NH(4)(+) ion complex with 1,13-bis(8-quinolyl)-1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxatridecane (L), a representative non-cyclic analogue of 18-crown-6, is reported along with the characteristics of the complex's solution; very interestingly, L forms a more stable complex with the NH(4)(+) ion than does 18-crown-6 by the formation of unique recognition tetrahedral-type hydrogen bonds.