The complexation of protonated hexacyclen and pentacyclen with pyrophosphate, selenite, selenate, molybdate and tungstate anions was studied by differential pulse polarography at 25 C. The stoichiometry and stability of the resulting anion complexes were evaluated from the pH and concentration-dependence of the peak potentials, respectively. The results established 1 : 1 anion receptor complexation in all cases. In the case of all anions studied, hexacyclen was found to form more stable anion complexes than pentacyclen. The fact that the anion-receptor complexation depends on the structural features of both the anions and the macrocycles used is indicative of a steric controlled interaction.
