Specific extraction behavior of amide derivative of calix[4]arene for silver (I) and gold (III) ions from highly acidic chloride media.

25,26,27,28-tetrakis(N,N-diethylaminocarbonylmethoxy)-5,11,17,23-tetrakis(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)calix[4]arene, a macrocyclic extraction reagent, and p-(1,1,3,3-tetra-methylbutyl)phenoxymethyl-N,N-diethylamide, an acyclic extraction reagent corresponding to the former one, were synthesized to investigate their extraction behavior for silver(I), gold(III), palladium(II), and platinum(IV) from highly acidic solution into chloroform. In the extraction of silver and gold from hydrochloric acid solution, a completely different extraction behavior was observed between these two types of the reagents. The extraction behavior was examined in detail for silver and was found to be dependent on whether silver ion was extracted as a cationic species or a anionic species complexed with chloride ion. This was supported by proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of the calix[4]arene derivative. As a result, the extraction of silver ion with calix[4]arene derivative was very peculiar which was attributable to the fitting between cyclic size of calix[4]arene and ionic radius of silver.