Crown-annelated oligothiophenes as model compounds for molecular actuation

Crown-annelated oligothiophenes are synthesized by the thiolate protection/deprotection method. Analysis of the ionophoric properties of the macrocycles by 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, UV-vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry gives consistent results, which show that the compounds do not complex alkali cations but show moderate to good binding properties for alkali-earth cations.