Complexation of tropylium ions with crown ethers and acyclic polyethers examined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

The molecular complex formation of six macrocyclic and six acyclic polyethers with tropylium and 4‐methoxyphenyltropylium tetrafluoroborates was observed and characterized in the gas phase by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS), to obtain information on intrinsic molecular interactions in the absence of the complicating effect of solvation. The stoichiometry of the complexes was assessed on the basis of corresponding peaks in FAB mass spectra. In addition to the expected 1 : 1 complexes between polyether and tropylium ion, some 2 : 1 complexes were also formed. The stability order of selected complexes was studied in competition experiments. The complexation equilibrium constant and thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 with tropylium ion were determined in 1,2‐dichloroethane solution by UV‐visible spectrophotometry. Complexation of polyethers with tropylium salts has not been reported previously.