Transport studies of inorganic and organic cations across liquid membranes containing Mannich-base calix[4]resorcinarenes

Three calix[4]resorcinarenes, two of them incorporating Mannich-type amino functions (C2 and C3), have been studied in respect to their ionoselectivities towards inorganic alkali cations as well as for organic primary ammonium cations, by ion transport across the bulk liquid membrane and extraction experiments. The ligand C3 displayed particular ionoselectivity for lithium ion, as a carrier in toluene membrane. The discrimination of organic primary ammonium ions was remarkable in liquid membranes, and the pattern of this discrimination depended on the membrane composition. Selectivities for both inorganic and organic ions depended significantly on the membane composition, the substituent in the calix[4]resorcinarene, and the counterion present in the salts studied.