[2.2.2]Cryptand is the organic compound with the formula N(CH2CH2OCH2CH2OCH2CH2)3N. This bicyclic molecule is the most studied member of the cryptand family of chelating agents. It is a white solid. Many analogous compounds are known. Their high affinity for alkali metal cations illustrates the advantages of "preorganization", a concept within the area of supramolecular chemistry.
For the design and synthesis of [2.2.2]cryptand, Jean-Marie Lehn shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The compound was originally prepared starting with the diacylation of the diamine-diether:
[CH2OCH2CH2NH2]2 + [CH2OCH2COCl]2 → [CH2OCH2CH2NHC(O)CH2]2 + 2 HClThe resulting macrocyclic diamide is reduced by lithium aluminium hydride. The resulting macrocyclic diamine tetraether reacts with a second equivalent of [CH2OCH2COCl]2 to produce the macrobicyclic diamide. This di(tertiary)amide is reduced to the diamine by diborane.
[2.2.2]Cryptand binds K+ as an octadentate N2O6 ligand. The resulting cation K([2.2.2]cryptand)+ is lipophilic.
References
Kang, Sung Ok; Llinares, José M.; Day, Victor W.; Bowman-James, Kristin (2010). "Cryptand-like anion receptors". Chemical Society Reviews. 39 (10): 3980–4003. doi:10.1039/C0CS00083C. PMID 20820597. /wiki/Kristin_Bowman-James ↩
Dietrich, B.; Lehn, J.M.; Sauvage, J.P. (1969). "Les Cryptates". Tetrahedron Letters. 10 (34): 2889–2892. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)88300-3. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩
Dietrich, B.; Lehn, J.M.; Sauvage, J.P. (1969). "Diaza-polyoxa-macrocycles et macrobicycles". Tetrahedron Letters. 10 (34): 2885–2888. doi:10.1016/S0040-4039(01)88299-X. /wiki/Doi_(identifier) ↩