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Friday, 15 March 2013

18-Crown-6

  • 18-Crown-6 is an organic compound with the formula [C2H4O]6 and the IUPAC name of 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane. 
  • It is a white, hygroscopic crystalline solid with a low melting point. 
  • Like other crown ethers, 18-crown-6 functions as a ligand for some metal cations with a particular affinity for potassium cations (binding constant in methanol: 106M-1). 
  • The synthesis of the crown ethers led to the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Charles J. Pedersen.
  • Crown ethers are used in the laboratory as phase transfer catalysts. 
  • In general however it is not widely used; cheaper and more versatile phase transfer catalysts are known. 
  • In the presence of 18-crown-6, potassium permanganate dissolves in benzene giving the so-called "purple benzene", which can be used to oxidize diverse organic compounds. 
  • More details are here. 
Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18-Crown-6

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