Abstract: A new asymmetric 37-crown-10 (1) with a pyromellitic diimide unit and a 1,5-naphthalene unit was synthesized, and its structure was resolved by X-ray diffraction. The binding behaviors of 1 with some cations were investigated by UV and 1H NMR spectroscopies. The crystal structure obtained shows that there are two smaller cavities due to the strong interaction from the intramolecular charge transfer. The structural feature is beneficial to the complexation of 1 with smaller cations. The UV experiments show that its binding ability for lithium is the strongest, that for sodium is weak, and no binding for other akali metal or alkaline-earth metal ions.

Key words: Macrocyclic compound, 37-Crown-10, High dilution method, Host-guest interaction, Selective with cation