| PATENT NUMBER | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT GRANT DATE | 02.04.2002 |
| PATENT TITLE |
Cucurbituril derivatives, their preparation methods and uses |
| PATENT ABSTRACT |
Cucurbituril derivatives, their preparation methods and uses. The cucurbituril derivatives have the formula (1) ##STR1## where X is O, S or NH; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkenyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkynyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylcarboxyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylsilyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, nitro group, alkylamine groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, amine group, aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms, unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms; and n is an integer from 4 to 20, wherein the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1), where n=6, R.sub.1 =H, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, and n=5, R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, are excluded. The cucurbituril derivatives are easily prepared as a mixture by one of the three new methods, and each cucurbituril derivative can be separated from the mixture by fractional crystallization. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) or their mixtures are very useful in removing dyes and heavy metal ions dissolved in water or waste water. |
| PATENT INVENTORS | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT ASSIGNEE | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT FILE DATE | June 28, 2000 |
| PATENT FOREIGN APPLICATION PRIORITY DATA | This data is not available for free |
| PATENT REFERENCES CITED | Kim et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., (Jan. 26, 2000), vol. 122, No. 3, pp. 540-541. |
| PATENT CLAIMS |
What is claimed is: 1. A cucurbituril derivative having the formula (1) ##STR8## where X is O, S or NH; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkenyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkynyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylcarboxyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylsilyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, nitro group, alkylamine groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, amine group, aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms, unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms; and n is an integer from 4 to 20, wherein the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1), where n=6, R.sub.1 =H, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, and n=5, R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, are excluded. 2. The cucurbituril derivative of claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, phenyl or pyridyl group, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen, methyl, propyl, phenyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, parafluorophenyl or .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluorotolyl group. 3. The cucurbituril derivative of claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, and R.sub.2 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, parafluorophenyl or .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluorotolyl group. 4. The cucurbituril derivative of claim 1, wherein R.sub.1 is methyl group, and R.sub.2 is methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, parafluorophenyl or .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluorotolyl group. 5. The cucurbituril derivative of claim 1, wherein when X=O, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are both hydrogens, and n=5, or a value of 7 to 20, or when X=NH or S, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are both hydrogens, and n is a value of 5 to 20. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| PATENT DESCRIPTION |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to the composition, methods of preparation and uses novel cucurbituril derivatives having various repeating units and cavities of various sizes. 2. Description of the Related Art Cucurbituril is a macrocyclic compound whose preparation was first reported by Behrend et al. in 1905 (Liebigs Ann. Chem. 1905, 339, 1). According to their report, the condensation of glycoluril and excess formaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid (HCl) produces an amorphous solid. Dissolution of the solid in hot concentrated sulfuric acid, dilution of the solution with water followed by slow cooling of the solution to room temperature produces a crystalline material. They wrongly characterized this substance as C.sub.10 H.sub.11 N.sub.7 O.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O solely based on elemental analysis. In 1981, this substance was rediscovered by Mock and coworkers (J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1981, 103, 7367). They correctly characterized it as a hexameric macrocyclic compound with composition of C.sub.36 H.sub.36 N.sub.24 O.sub.12, which was also confirmed by X-ray crystal structure determination. They named it cucurbituril which we from now on refer to as cucurbit[6]uril. Since then an improved preparation procedure for cucurbit[6]uril has been disclosed (DE 196 03 377 A1). According to this new procedure, in the presence of an acid, glycoluril and formaldehyde are reacted at 100.degree. C. or a higher temperature, and then the reaction mixture is further heated up to 150.degree. C. to concentrate the reaction mixture. Cooling the mixture to room temperature results in cucurbit[6]uril. This synthetic method can increase the yield of cucurbit[6]uril. However, it was reported to produce only the hexameric cucurbituril, cucurbit[6]uril, with improved yield. The cucurbituril derivatives having less or more than six monomers cannot be synthesized by the method. Moreover, the synthetic method requires a much higher reaction temperature, which makes it less practical. In addition, decamethylcucurbit[5]uril, in which five dimethanodimethylglycoluril units form a cyclic structure by the condensation of dimethylglycoluril and formaldehyde, has been reported (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 1992, 31, 1475). As described above, up to now, only two cucurbituril derivatives, cucurbit[n]uril with n=6 and decamethylcucurbit[n]uril with n=5, have been reported. The known cucurbituril derivatives are very limited in terms of types and cavity sizes (5.5 or less). Also, they are insoluble in common solvents such as water or methanol, and thus their applications are limited. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first objective of the present invention is to provide novel cucurbituril derivatives with various-sized cavities and/or with enhanced solubilities in common solvents. The second objective of the present invention is to provide easy preparation methods for the cucurbituril derivatives. The third objective of the present invention is to provide the uses of the cucurbituril derivatives. The first objective of the present invention is achieved by cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) ##STR2## where X is O, S or NH; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkenyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkynyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylcarboxyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylsilyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, nitro group, alkylamine groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, amine group, aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms, unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms; and n is an integer from 4 to 20, wherein the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1), where n=6, R.sub.1 =H, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, and n=5, R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, are excluded. The second objective of the present invention is achieved by new preparation methods for cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) ##STR3## where X is O, S or NH; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkenyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkynyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylcarboxyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylsilyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, nitro group, alkylamine groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, amine group, aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms, unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms; and n is an integer from 4 to 20. The basic process of the invention used for the preparation of cucurbituril derivatives having formula (1) hereinabove comprises: (a1) adding 3 to 7 moles of an acid to 1 mole of compound (A) hereinbelow to form a mixture, adding 2 to 20 moles of alkylaldehyde (B) hereinbelow to the mixture, and stirring the mixture at 70 to 95.degree. C.; and (b1) stirring the reaction mixture at 95 to 105.degree. C. to complete the reaction. ##STR4## In another embodiment, the cucurbituril derivatives having formula (1) hereinabove may be formed by (a2) adding 0.1 to 1 moles of an acid to 1 mole of compound (A) hereinabove to form a mixture, adding 2 to 20 moles of alkylaldehyde (B) hereinabove to the mixture, and stirring the mixture at 70 to 85.degree. C., to obtain an intermediate in a gel state; and (b2) drying the gel, adding 3 to 7 moles of an acid for each mole of the dried intermediate, and stirring the reaction mixture at 70 to 105.degree. C. In still another embodiment, the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) hereinabove may be formed by (a3) placing compound (A) hereinabove, and 0.1 to 1 moles of an acid and 2 to 20 moles of alkylaldehyde(B) hereinabove for each mole of compound (A) hereinabove, in a high-pressure reactor, and reacting the mixture at 80 to 130.degree. C. to obtain an oligomeric intermediate in powder form; and (b3) adding 3 to 7 moles of an acid for each mole of the oligomeric intermediate, and stirring the mixture at 70 to 105.degree. C. The reaction products of steps (b1), (b2) and (b3) are a mixture of two or more cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (2) with n of a value from 5 to 20, depending on the reaction conditions. The typical reaction products of steps (b1), (b2) and (b3) are a mixture of 5-30% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=5, 30-70% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=6, 5-30% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=7, 2-15% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=8, and 1-10% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=9 through 20. Each of the above three methods for preparing cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) hereinabove, may further comprise: (c1) crystallizing the cucurbituril derivative having the formula (1) with n=8 from the product mixtures obtained in step (b1), (b2) or (b3); (d1) diluting the remaining solution after step (c1) with water and acetone to produce a precipitate which is filtered and further treated in step (e1), and removing the solvent from the resulting filtrate to obtain the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1), with n ranging from 9 to 20; and (e1) partially dissolving the precipitate obtained in step (d1) in water to obtain the cucurbituril derivatives with n=5 and 7 from the water soluble fraction, and the cucurbituril derivative with n=6 from the water insoluble fraction. Separation of the cucurbituril derivative with n=5 from the cucurbituril derivative with n=7 in the water soluble fraction, which is obtained from step (e1), is achieved by partial precipitation using a mixed solvent of water and methanol. In another aspect of the present invention, the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) prepared by the inventive methods can be utilized to remove organic dyes from waste water, heavy metal from water, and radioactive isotopes from radioactive wastes, to capture and remove unpleasant odor, and air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, NO.sub.x and SO.sub.x, and to deodorize and decolorize livestock waste water and ironwork waste water. Also, the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) are applicable in manufacturing sensors for sensing ammonium ions, organic amines, amino acid derivatives, nucleic acid bases, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal ions. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) can be used as additives to polymers, cosmetics, artificially scented papers or textiles, pesticides and herbicides, and drugs, and used as drug carriers. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) can be used for extraction and purification of fullerene or caborane compounds, and used as packing materials of chromatographic columns, as additives to gas separation membranes, as catalysts for various chemical reactions. For such applications, any cucurbituril derivative synthesized in the present invention can be used. A mixture of the cucurbituril derivatives from step (b1), (b2) or (b3) can be used for the above-listed purposes without further purification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above objectives and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the synthetic pathways of cucurbituril derivatives according to the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates the separation of the cucurbituril derivatives obtained through the pathways illustrated in FIG. 1; and FIGS. 3 through 5 show the X-ray crystal structures of the cucurbituril derivatives prepared in Synthesis Examples 1 through 3, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) ##STR5## where X is O, S or NH; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkenyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkynyl groups 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylcarboxly groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkysily groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, nitro group, alkylamine groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, amine group, aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms, unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms; and n is an integer from 4 to 20, wherein the cucrbituril derivatives having the formula (1), where n=6, R.sub.1 =H, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, and n=5, R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, are excluded. The alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms for R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may include methyl, ethyl, proply, isopropyl and t-butyl groups. The alkenyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms for R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may include proplyene and butene groups, and the alkynyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms therefor may include a hexynyl group. The alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms may include butylmethylsulfide and octanethiol groups. The alkylcarboxyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms may include carboxyproply and carboxylbutyl and hydroxyethyl groups. The alkylsilyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms may include aryltriethylsilyl and vinyltriethylsilyl groups, and the alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms amy include methoxy and ethoxy groups. The haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms may include CF.sub.3 and CH.sub.2 Cl, and the aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms may include 2-aminobutyl and 1-aminobutyl groups. The unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms may include cyclohexly and cyclopentyl groups, and the cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms may include piperidyl and tetrahydrofuranyl groups. The unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms may include phenyl, benzyl and naphthyl groups, and the aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms may include pentafluorophenyl and pyridyl groups. In consideration of the above examples of R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 in the formula (1) hereinabove, the following compounds may be examples of the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1). In other words, in the formula (1) hereinabove, R.sub.1 may be methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, t-butyl, phenyl or pyridyl group, and R.sub.2 may be hydrogen, methyl, propyl, phenyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, parafluorophenyl or .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluorotolyl group. Alternatively, R.sub.1 may be hydrogen, and R.sub.2 may be methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, parafluorophenyl or .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluorotolyl group. In another embodiment, R.sub.1 may be methyl group, and R.sub.2 may be methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl, trichloromethyl, trifluoromethyl, parafluorophenyl or .alpha.,.alpha.,.alpha.-trifluorotolyl group. More preferable cucurbituril derivatives have the formula (1) hereinabove, wherein X=O, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are both hydrogens, and n=5, or a value of 7 to 20, and wherein X=NH or S, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are both hydrogens, and n is a value of 5 to 20. Hereinafter, the methods for synthesizing the cucurbituril derivatives according to the present invention will be described. The following methods, which are different from their conventional synthetic methods, can also be applied to the synthesis of the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) with n=6, R.sub.1 =H, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, or with n=5, R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, which are already known. The method for synthesizing the cucurbituril derivatives according to the present invention can be classified into one of three methods, according to the reaction conditions and the state of intermediate products (refer to FIG. 1). As for the first synthesis method of cucurbituril derivatives, an acid is added to compound (A) in an amount of 3 to 7 moles with respect to 1 mole of compound (A), and mixed. Preferably, the acid is diluted with water or an organic solvent to be 1 to 12M, but preferably to be 6 to 12M. Any acid capable of dissolving compound (A) such as glycoluril (R.sub.1 =H), for example, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, nitric acid and an mixtures of these acids, can be used. The organic solvent as an acid diluent may be dimethylsulfoxide, N,N-dimethylformamide, methanol, ethanol, chloroform or an mixture of these solvents. Compound (A) (X=O) can be synthesized by the following method, and compound (A) with R.sub.1 =H and X=O (glycoluril) can be purchased. As shown in the following reaction scheme, urea and compound (C) are dissolved in an aqueous acidic solution or an acid-containing organic solvent, and stirred for a certain period of time. Removal of water or the organic solvent from the reaction mixture produces compound (A) (X=O). The compound (A) with X=S or NH can be obtained by a similar procedure. ##STR6## Compound A (X=O) is reacted with alkylaldehyde (B) in an acidic solution while stirring at 70 to 95.degree. C. for 6 to 24 hours. The amount of alkylaldehyde (B) used is 2 to 20 moles for each mole of glycoluril, but preferably, 4 moles. For example, alkylaldehyde (B) may be formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, benzaldehyde, and the like. During the reaction, the color of the reaction solution changes into dark red with time. The reaction mixture is subjected to a further reaction at 95 to 105.degree. C. The final reaction product varies depending on the reaction temperature and the amount of reactants. The usual final reaction product is a mixture of two or more cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) hereinabove, where n is a value from 5 to 20. Typically, the reaction product is a mixture of 5 to 30% of the cucurbituril derivative with n=5, 30 to 70% of the cucurbituril derivative with n=6, 5 to 30% of the cucurbituril derivative with n=7, 2 to 15% of the cucurbituril derivative with n=8, and 1 to 10% of the cucurbituril derivatives with n=9 to 20. However, during the reaction at 95 to 105.degree. C., the cucurbituril derivative with n=6 may precipitate in a crystalline form, depending on the reaction temperature, moisture content in the air, and concentration of reactants. Then, the resulting cucurbituril derivatives are separated from each other by the following fractional crystallization procedure shown in FIG. 2. First, the final reaction mixture is diluted with water and left on a bench at room temperature to give the cucurbituril derivative having the formula (1) hereinbelow, where n=8. ##STR7## where X is O, S or NH; R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkenyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkynyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylthio groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylcarboxyl groups of 2 to 30 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkylsilyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, alkoxy groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, haloalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, nitro group, alkylamine groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, amine group, aminoalkyl groups of 1 to 30 carbon atoms, unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of 5 to 30 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl groups of 4 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms, unsubstituted aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms, and aryl groups of 6 to 30 carbon atoms with hetero atoms; and n is an integer from 4 to 20. During this separation step, the cucurbituril derivative with n=6 may be formed in crystalline form, and can be easily separated from the cucurbituril derivative with n=8 in the formula (1), with a solvent. The solvent for use in the separation of the cucurbituril derivative with n=6 may be an alkali metal ion salt solution, such as Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 or K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, an amine-acid salt solution (H.sub.2 N--R--NH.sub.2 .2HCl) or a formic acid solution. The crystalline cucurbituril derivative with n=6 is soluble in such a solvent, whereas the cucurbituril derivative with n=8 is relatively less soluble in the solvent, which enables the separation of the two reaction products. After separation of the cucurbituril derivative with n=8 in the formula (1), the filtrate is further diluted with water and acetone, and filtered. Preferably, water and acetone are added in a ratio of 1:3 to 1:7 by volume. The filtrate after the filtration contains the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1), where n=9 to 20. Meanwhile, the filter cake is dissolved in water. Here, the cucurbituril derivatives with n=5 and 7 in the formula (1) are obtained as a major component of the water soluble fraction. The major component in the water insoluble fraction is the cucurbituril derivative with n=6 in the formula (1). The cucurbituril derivatives with n=5 and 7 in the formula (1) can be separated from each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2, with a mixture of water and methanol in a ratio of 1:0.7 to 1:1.3 by volume. That is, water and methanol are added to the solution containing both the cucurbituril derivatives with n=5 and 7, and filtered. The insoluble fraction is then recrystallized with tetrahydrofuran (THF) and acetone to obtain the pure crystalline cucurbituril derivative with n=7 in the formula (1). Also, the filtrate, which is the water and methanol soluble fraction, is recrystallized with an aqueous solution of acid to obtain the crystalline cucurbituril derivative with n=5 in the formula (1). In the second synthetic method of the cucurbituril derivatives according to the present invention, a relatively small amount of acid than in the previously mentioned method is added to the reaction mixture of compound (A) and alkylaldehyde (B) to result in an intermediate product in a gel state. Then, the intermediate product is treated with an acid to obtain the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) hereinabove. In particular, an acid is added to compound (A) in an amount of 0.1 to 1 moles with respect to 1 mole of compound (A). The acid added may be diluted with water or an organic solvent in the same ratio as in the first method mentioned above. Examples of the useful organic solvents have been described in the first synthesis method, and thus examples of the organic solvents are not listed herein. Then, 2 to 20 moles, but preferably, 2 to 4 moles, of alkylaldehyde (B) with respect to 1 mole of compound (A) is added to the mixture, and reacted at 70 to 85.degree. C. to obtain the intermediate product in a gel state. After drying the intermediate product, 3 to 7 moles of an acid with respect to 1 mole of the intermediate product are added and stirred at 70 to 105.degree. C. Here, the acid is diluted with water or an organic solvent prior to the addition. In the present method, the final reaction product slightly varies depending on the reaction temperature and the amount of reactants, as in the first synthesis method. However, the usual final reaction product is a mixture of two or more cucurbituril derivatives in the formula (1) hereinabove, where n is a value from 5 to 20. Typically, the final reaction product is a mixture of 5 to 30% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=5, 30 to 70% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=6, 5 to 30% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=7, 2 to 15% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=8, and 1 to 10% of the cucurbituril derivatives having n=9 to 20. Then, the fractional separation described with reference to FIG. 2 is carried out to give the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (2) hereinabove, where n is a value from 5 to 20, as in the first synthesis method. The third synthetic method of the cucurbituril derivatives disclosed by the present invention involves a reaction under a high pressure condition, which is different from the two previously mentioned synthetic methods. In this synthetic method, the amount of acid added for the reaction with compound (A) and alkylaldehyde(B) is reduced, as in the second synthesis method, to produce oligomer powder as an intermediate product. The obtained intermediate product is treated with an acid to synthesize the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) hereinabove. In contrast to the two previously mentioned methods, the cucurbituril derivative having n=7 is produced in a relatively higher yield, whereas the cucurbituril derivative having n=6 is produced in a relatively lower yield. In particular, compound (A), an acid and alkylaldehyde (B) are put into a high-pressure reactor. Here, 0.1 to 1 moles of acid and 2 to 4 moles of alkylaldehyde(B) are added with respect to 1 mole of compound (A). The acid is diluted with water or an organic solvent prior to use. The concentration of the diluted acid solution may vary depending on the reaction conditions, but preferably, 1 to 12M, more preferably 6 to 12M, of the acid solution is added. Then, the mixture is reacted at 80 to 130.degree. C. Preferably, the reaction is carried out under a pressure of 15 to 100 psi, but preferably, 20 to 80 psi. If the reaction pressure is higher than 100 psi, it may place the synthesis process itself into a dangerous situation. Meanwhile, if the reaction pressure is lower than 15 psi, the yield may be low. After the reaction is completed, the solid reaction product is washed with water or an organic solvent and dried to yield oligomers in powder form as an intermediate product. Then, 3 to 7 moles of an acid for each mole of oligomers is added to the oligomers, and the mixture is stirred at 70 to 105.degree. C. The acid added herein is diluted with water or an organic solvent, as in the first and second synthesis methods. The concentration and types of the useful acids are also identical to those in the first and second synthesis methods. As a result, a mixture of two or more cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (2), where n is a value from 5 to 20, is obtained as in the first and second synthesis methods. Typically, the final reaction product is a mixture of 5 to 30% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=5, 30 to 70% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=6, 5 to 30% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=7, 2 to 15% of the cucurbituril derivative having n=8, and 1 to 10% of the cucurbituril derivatives having n=9 to 20. After the reaction between the oligomers and the acid is completed, the separation procedure shown in FIG. 2 is carried out to give the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) hereinabove, where n is a value from 5 to 20, as in the first and second synthesis methods. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) with X=S can also be synthesized by the above-described methods using compound (A) with X=S, instead of with X=O. Here, compound (A) with X=S can be synthesized in the same way described previously, except that thiourea instead of urea is used. Furthermore, the above-described methods can be applied in synthesizing the a cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) with X=NH. The present invention provides easy preparation methods for the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1), where n ranges from 5 to 20, and separation methods based on their different solubilities in a common solvent such as water, acetone and methanol. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) disclosed by the present invention, which can be used as a substitute for cyclodextrine, have cavities having a diameter of 4 to 15 .ANG., which are able to include guest molecules, such as cyclic benzene derivatives, naphthalene derivatives, carborane derivatives, fullerene derivatives, ferrocene derivatives and adamantane derivatives in their cavities. The cucurbituril derivatives can selectively remove such compounds by the inclusion therein. In the case where X=O in the formula (1) and the cucurbituril derivatives are complexed with an ammonium salt or an alkali metal ion, the cucurbituril derivatives are soluble in water. Also, the cucurbituril derivatives coprecipitate with organic dyes at a certain pH. In the case when X is S or NH, or R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is propyl or longer alkyl chain, the cucurbituril derivatives are soluble in organicsolvents, providing wider applications than previously known cucurbituril derivatives. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) can include various compounds with different sizes, and have Lewis base atoms near the cavities of the molecule, which can form chemical bonds with charged metal ions, organometallic ions or organic compounds, and thus the cucurbituril derivatives can have a wide range of applications. In particular, the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) according to the present invention can be used to remove organic dyes from waste water, heavy metal from water, and radioactive isotopes from radioactive wastes, to capture and remove unpleasant odor, and air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, NOx and SOx, and to deodorize and decolorize livestock waste water and ironwork waste water. Also, the cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) are applicable in manufacturing sensors for sensing ammonium ions, organic amines, amino acid derivatives, nucleic acid bases, alkali metal or alkaline earth. metal ions. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) can be used as additives to polymers, cosmetics, artificially scented papers or textiles, pesticides and herbicides, and drugs, and used as drug carriers. The cucurbituril derivatives having the formula (1) can be used for extraction and purification of fullerene or caborane compounds, and used as packing materials of chromatographic columns, as additives to gas separation membranes, as catalysts for various chemical reactions. For the above listed purposes, the cucurbituril derivatives may be used in mixed form along with the cucurbituril derivative having the formula (1), wherein n=6, R.sub.1 =H, R.sub.2 =H and X=O, and/or the cucurbituril derivative having the formula (1), wherein n=5, R.sub.1 =CH.sub.3, R.sub.2 =H and X=O. In the applications of the cucurbituril derivatives disclosed by the present invention, a certain pure cucurbituril derivative or a mixture of cucurbituril derivatives can be used. However, if the difference in effect is not great among types of the cucurbituril derivatives used, use of the mixture of cucurbituril derivatives prepared by one of the three methods in FIG. 1 is preferred in terms of cost, because it does not need additional separation process. The present invention will be described in greater detail by means of the following examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. |
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