Benzo-18-crown-6-ether (B18C6) is an organic compound that can be used to prepare stable microcapsule responsive layers for further assembly into bilayer microcapsules. For example, 18-Crown-6-ether is used to prepare the response layer and is coated with a G-quadruplex cross-linked hydrogel layer stabilized by K+; when Mg2+ ions are present, 18-Crown-6-ether and K+ ions can respectively Dissociates and locks with the G-quadruplex cross-linked layer, thereby achieving switchable controlled release of the load[1].
Purify it by passage through a DEAE cellulose column in cyclohexane. It recrystallises from n-hexane. Its thiourea complex has m 127o [5-6 mol of urea to ether, Pedersen J Org Chem 36 1690 1971]. The stability constants of the Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, Tl+ and Ba2+ complexes are described in Hofmanova et al. Inorg Chim Acta 28 73 1978. [NMR: Live & Chan J Am Chem Soc 98 3769 1976]. [Beilstein 19/12 V 618.] IRRITANT.
