Hydrophilicity and Complexing Ability of Alkyl Lariat Ethers

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.57.1612

A series of long chain alkyl lariat ethers were synthesized and their aqueous properties in the absence and presence of alkali metal cations were investigated by measuring their cloud points and complex stability constants.In spite of the presence of ether oxygen(s) in the side chain, complexing abilities toward sodium and potassium cations did not significantly differ from those of the corresponding alkyl crown ethers.As the number of ether oxygens in the side chain of lariat ethers was increased, the water solubilities were much improved and showed high cloud points.However, the degree of salting-in effect decreased and the increment of cloud point caused by addition of salts decreased, probably due to the increase of acyclicity of the polyether molecule.