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Crown Ethers

Crown Ethers

Crown ethers are cyclic polyethers that contain multiple oxygen atoms, usually arranged in a regular pattern. The first crown ether was synthesized by Charles Pederson while working at DuPont in 1967. For this work, Pedersen was co-awarded the 1987 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Crown ethers are named using the formula x-crown-y, where x is the total number of atoms in the ring and y is the number of ether oxygen atoms. The term 'crown' refers to the crown-like shape that these ether molecules take.

Structure and Nomenclature of Ethers

Structure and Nomenclature of Ethers

Structure and Bonding
Ethers are organic compounds with an ether functional group which is characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two — identical or different — alkyl, aryl, or vinyl groups. The C–O–C linkage in dimethyl ether — the simplest ether — has an approximately tetrahedral bond angle of 110.3 degrees. The oxygen atom is sp3- hybridized, with the C–O distance being about 140 pm.
Classification of Ethers
Based on their attached substituent...

Network Covalent Solids

Network Covalent Solids

Network covalent solids contain a three-dimensional network of covalently bonded atoms as found in the crystal structures of nonmetals like diamond, graphite, silicon, and some covalent compounds, such as silicon dioxide (sand) and silicon carbide (carborundum, the abrasive on sandpaper). Many minerals have networks of covalent bonds.
To break or to melt a covalent network solid, covalent bonds must be broken. Because covalent bonds are relatively strong, covalent network solids are typically...

Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II

Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals II

sp3d and sp3d 2 Hybridization

Physical Properties of Ethers

Physical Properties of Ethers

Overview
An ether molecule has a net dipole moment due to the polarity of C–O bonds. Subsequently, boiling points of ethers are lower than those of alcohols of comparable molecular weight and slightly higher than those of hydrocarbons of comparable molecular weight (Table 1).
Ethers can act as hydrogen bond acceptors, making them more water-soluble than hydrocarbons, but since ethers cannot act as hydrogen bond donors, they are much less soluble in water than alcohols. Ethers are...

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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures

Preparation and Characterization of C60/Graphene Hybrid Nanostructures

Published on: May 15, 2018

Crown ethers in graphene.

Junjie Guo¹, Jaekwang Lee², Cristian I Contescu³

¹1] Materials Science and Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA [2] Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.

Nature Communications

|November 14, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers embedded flexible crown ethers into graphene, creating rigid, planar structures. This innovation enhances selectivity for metal cations, opening new avenues for functionalized graphene applications.

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Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Polyhedrons via Origami-Like Self-Folding

Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Polyhedrons via Origami-Like Self-Folding

Published on: September 23, 2018

Area of Science:

Supramolecular Chemistry
Materials Science
Nanotechnology

Background:

Crown ethers are cyclic molecules known for selective ion binding.
Their inherent flexibility limits applications requiring high affinity and selectivity.
Rigidifying crown ethers is crucial for advanced chemical sensing and separation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a method for rigidifying crown ethers.
To investigate the impact of structural rigidity on ion selectivity.
To explore the potential of graphene-supported crown ethers for new applications.

Main Methods:

Embedding crown ether structures within graphene lattices.
Obtaining atomic-resolution images of the composite structures.
Performing first-principles calculations to predict cation selectivity.

Main Results:

Graphene successfully constrained crown ethers into rigid, planar conformations.
Calculations indicate maintained or enhanced selectivity for specific metal cations.
The graphene-crown ether system provides a stable and modelable platform.

Conclusions:

Graphene encapsulation offers an effective strategy to rigidify crown ethers.
This approach preserves and potentially improves ion-binding selectivity.
Chemically functionalized graphene with rigid crown ethers promises novel sensing and separation technologies.