Design and synthesis of a new class of nonmacrocyclic alkali metal host compounds.

A new class of nonmacrocyclic metal ion hosts has been examined that features a polyspirocyclic framework that offers a 1,3,5-triaxial presentation of ligating centers. These compounds are easily synthesized and exploit stereoelectronic influences to preorganize the metal ion binding site. While compounds bearing oxygen substituents (X = OH, OMe) failed to show appreciable binding of alkali metals, the aminated host (X = NHBn) exhibitied strong binding with association constants (K(a)) greater than 10(7)-10(8) as measured by picrate extraction analysis.