Mono Halogen Substituted Calix[4]pyrroles: Fine-tuning the Anion Binding Properties of Calix[4]pyrrole

Single halogen atom (i. e. I, Br, Cl and F) substituted calix[4]pyrroles, compounds 2, 3, 4 and 5, were synthesized. Studies of these systems reveal that replacement of a single β-pyrrolic hydrogen atom can increase the anion binding ability of calix[4]pyrroles for a variety of anions (e. g. Cl−, Br−, H2PO4 − and HSO− 4) relative to normal non-halogen substituted calix[4]pyrrole 1. In the case of chloride anion, the expected relative affinity sequence of 5 > 4 > 3 > 2 was observed. This was not found to be true for Br−, H2PO− 4, and HSO− 4. Here, the chlorine substituted calix[4]pyrrole 4 was found to display a slightly higher affinity in the case of each anion than the fluorine-bearing derivative 5. This was rationalized in terms of intermolecular NH … F hydrogen bonding interactions being present in CD2Cl2 solutions of 5. Support for this latter conclusion came from concentration and temperature-dependent NMR spectroscopic studies. A matched set of mono halogen substituted calix[4]pyrroles was used to study in detail, the extent to which halogen substituents may be used to fine-tune the anion binding properties of calix[4]pyrroles.