Influence of polar solvents upon the complex formation of 18-crown-6 with cations in chloroform

The complex formation of crown ethers with cations in nonpolar medium with small amounts of polar solvents added has been studied. The goal has been to get deeper insight into the influence of solvation (hydration) of the salts for the formation of complexes with the macrocyclic ligand 18-crown-6 (18C6). A linear dependence of the reaction enthalpy for complex formation between 18C6 and alkali metal cations in chloroform in the presence of water or methanol has been observed. The presence of acetonitrile or acetone has had no influence upon the measured reaction enthalpies. The influence of methanol on the complex formation between 18C6 and alkali metal cations in chloroform is weaker than in the case of water. This underpins the selective solvation of alkali cations in chloroform after the addition of small amounts of water or methanol. The experiments have been performed using calorimetric titrations.