Lariat ethers with fluoroaryl side-arms: a study of CFmetal cation interaction in the complexes of N-(o-fluoroaryl)azacrown ethers.

New lariat ethers, N-(o-fluorophenyl)aza-15-crown-5 (F-A15C5) and N,N'-bis(o-fluorophenyl)diaza-18-crown-6 (F(2)-A(2)18C6), were prepared by the N-arylation of the corresponding azacrown ethers. The interaction of the ligands with metal cations was studied in solution by (1)H and (19)F NMR (in acetone-d(6)) and UV spectroscopy (MeOH) confirming the formation of complexes of F(2)-A(2)18C6 with K(+), Na(+), Ag(+), Ba(2+), Pb(2+) and of F-A15C5 with Na(+) and giving evidence of CFmetal cation interaction. Cation binding constants (beta, evaluated by UV titration method), demonstrate that F-A15C5 and F(2)-A(2)18C6 form more stable complexes than their fluorine-free analogs.