Several new nitrogen-containing calixarene derivatives have been synthesized and their ion-binding properties investigated by UV spectroscopy and solvent extraction. These derivatives include 5,11,17,23-tetra-t-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis (piperidinocarbonylmethoxy) calix [4] arene (5), 5,11,17,23,29,35,41,47-octa-t-butyl-49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56-octa (piperidinocarbonylmethoxy) calix[8]arene (6) and 5,11,17,23,29,35,41,47-octa-t-butyl-49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56-octa(N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethoxy) calix[8]arene (7). The UV spectra of 6 and 7 revealed they had an ability to transform tight lead picrate ion pairs into separated ones by complexation with Pb2+ in tetrahydrofuran. Both derivatives give 1: 1 complexes with Pb2+. Extraction studies showed that these derivatives could efficiently extract Pb2+ (as picrate salts) from the aqueous phase into chloroform. The extractability of these derivatives were also compared with that of the oxygen-containing ester derivative calix [8] arene 2 and the other two nitrogen-containing compounds 8 and 9.

Three new thiacalix [4] arene derivatives, 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-di (2-hydroxyethoxy)-26,28-dihydroxythiacalix-[4] arene (2), 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-25, 26,27,28-tetrakis [(methylcarboxyl)methoxy] thiacalix [4] arene (3), 5,11,17,23-tetratert-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-1-propanoxy)thiacalix [4] arene (4), were synthesized for the first time. The coordination properties of thiacalix [4] arene (1) and its derivatives (2and4) were investigated by detecting the interactions between these compounds and two palladium complexes, cis-[Pd(en)(H2O)2]2+ and cis-[Pd(dtco-3-OH)(H2O)2]2+, by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) technique.

The transport of Fe3+ ions with p-tert-butyl calix[n]arenes and their derivatives as carriers was studied by means of a bubbling pseudo-emulsion liquid membrane. The factors affecting the transport and the selective transport for Fe3+ ions from a mixture of Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions were investigated. It has been discovered that the gradient of the acidity between the source phase and the receiving phase is the driving force for the transport. Additionally, the transports using a series of calixarenes and their derivatives as carriers were studied and compared with each other. A preliminary discussion for the transport mechanism was also given in this paper.

To prepare calixarene-based polymers with proton transport ability, the calix [4] arene derivatives with one polymerizable group at the upper rim were first prepared via selective nitration, amination, and acrylamidation of calix [4] arene. Two methods, solution polymerization and emulsion olymerization, were then employed to carry out the copolymerization of these derivatives with other monomers such as styrene, vinyl acetate, or methyl methacrylate. Transport experiments show that the resulting calixarene-based polymers have a very good ability to transport protons.

The monolayer properties of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (TCA) at the air-water interface was investigated by the measurements of surface pressure-area isotherms. However, TCA only exists as a trimmer aggregate on the subphase of deionized water. Copper (II) ion in the subphase can induce the monolayer formation of TCA. The UV-Vis spectra and FTIR spectra of the transferred films suggested that the monolayer formation was fulfilled through the coordination of copper (II) ion to TCA at the air-water surface.