15-Crown-5

Synthesis

15-Crown-5 can be synthesized using a modified Williamson ether synthesis:

:(CH2OCH2CH2Cl)2 + O(CH2CH2OH)2 + 2 NaOH → (CH2CH2O)5 + 2 NaCl + 2 H2O

It also forms from the cyclic oligomerization of ethylene oxide in the presence of gaseous boron trifluoride.

Properties

Analogous to 18-crown-6, 15-crown-5 binds to sodium ions. Thus, when treated with this complexing agent, sodium salts often become soluble in organic solvents.

First-row transition metal dications fit snugly inside the cavity of 15-crown-5. They are too small to be included in 18-crown-6. The binding of transition metal cations results in multiple hydrogen-bonded interactions from both equatorial and axial aqua ligands, such that highly crystalline solid-state supramolecular polymers can be isolated. Metal salts isolated in this form include Co(ClO4)2, Ni(ClO4)2, Cu(ClO4)2, and Zn(ClO4)2. Seven coordinate species are most common for transition metal complexes of 15-crown-5, with the crown ether occupying the equatorial plane, along with 2 axial aqua ligands.{{cite book

15-crown-5 has also been used to isolate salts of oxonium ions. For example, from a solution of tetrachloroauric acid, the oxonium ion [H7O3]+ has been isolated as the salt [(H7O3)(15-crown-5)2][AuCl4]. Neutron diffraction studies revealed a sandwich structure, which shows a chain of water with remarkably long O-H bond (1.12 Å) in the acidic proton, but with a very short OH•••O distance (1.32 Å).

A derivative of 15-crown-5, benzo-15-crown-5, has been used to produce anionic complexes of carbido ligands as their [K(benzo-15-crown-5)2]+ salts: :(Ar2N)3MoCH + KCH2Ph + 2 (15-crown-5) → [K(15-crown-5)2]+[(Ar2N)3MoC]− + CH3Ph

References

References

1. (16 September 2004). "15-crown-5 - Compound Summary". National Center for Biotechnology Information.
2. (1974). "Facile syntheses of 12-crown-4 and 15-crown-5". Tetrahedron Letters.
3. (2001). "15-Crown-5". John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.