p-tert-Butylcalix[6]arene, CAL6,
has been functionalized by the introduction of amide moieties
(OCH2CONEt2) on the six phenolic OH groups to give the
corresponding hexamide, HXAM, which shows an
interesting selectivity toward the guanidinium cation. The present
study reports the behavior of HXAM
monolayers at the water−air interface as a function of temperature
and subphase composition. The
parameters obtained from the spreading isotherms (limiting areas,
A
o, compressibility moduli,
C
s
-1 =
(1/A)(∂π/∂A), and changes in the Gibbs
free energy upon passing from water to salt subphase,
ΔG
salt-water)
and the surface potential data show that the HXAM assumes a
“cone-shaped” conformation. The molecules
are in a parallel orientation at the water−air interface with the six
amide groups in the water phase.
Changes in the subphase from water to salt solutions (NaCl, KCl,
CsCl, guanidinium thiocyanate) affect
the spreading isotherms but not the surface potential behavior.
The results are discussed in terms of the
two-dimensional phases of the monomolecular films, the stoichiometry of
the complexes with the cations,
and the conformations of uncomplexed and complexed HXAM molecules.
The comparison of these results
with those of the unsubstituted CAL6 behavior shows the high
selectivity of HXAM monolayers toward
the guanidinium cation.