Unprecedented mechanochemical preparation of 18Crown[6] and 15Crown[5] adducts of ammonium hydrogen sulfate by grinding or kneading

The complex 18Crown[6]·[NH4][HSO4]·2H2O has been prepared by co-grinding of solid 18Crown[6] ether and solid [NH4][HSO4], while the complex (15Crown[5])3·[NH4]2[H3O][HSO4]3·H2O has been obtained by kneading liquid 15Crown[5] together with solid [NH4][HSO4]. Structural characterization has been achieved on single crystals obtained by recrystallization of the solid products from water.