Pedersen reported the affinity of Crown Ethers (CEs) (host) guest⁾ [1] towards cationic (guest). The early focus of this concept in supramolecular research was primarily metallic cation recognition.

More recently this emphasis has broadned to include anion and molecular recognition. The predominant interest in this field has shifted toward the switchable molecular devices development and molecules shuttles [2].

In this context, we propose to study the physical-chemistry properties of
N, N-diphényl-1,4-phenylenediamine (DPA) were investigated with and without CE, by cyclic voltammetry. The DPA was selected for their reversible redox properties. The aim is to put in evidence an eventual interaction between this molecule and / or their redox products with each CE.

The DPA alone exhibits a two reversible monoelectronic redox waves. While the CE increasing concentration, leads to no significant changes on first redox wave. While, the second wave potential shifts progressively to more negative values. These results indicate that CE interacts only with dication. Therefore this is a double heterogeneous electron transfer step mechanism followed by diaction-EC host-guest interaction constant (K) and the mecansim parameters are reported bellow.

References

1.         C.J. Pederson, (1967). J. Am. Chem. Soc., 89, 7017-7036