[2.2.2]-Cryptand (Crypt-222) Molecular Model

A 3D-printable model of [2.2.2]-cryptand (4,7,13,16,21,24-hexaoxa-1,10-diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane), the iconic bicyclic multidentate ligand developed by Jean-Marie Lehn. This model was generated and exported directly from the open-source web application 3D Printing Molecules, developed through a collaboration between UCT Prague and the 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University.

Chemical & Educational Highlights

• Chemical Formula: C18H36N2O6C18H36N2O6

• Supramolecular Architecture: A three-dimensional bicyclic cage with two nitrogen bridgeheads linked by three diether bridges (−(CH2CH2O)2CH2CH2−−(CH2CH2O)2CH2CH2−).

• The Cryptate Effect: Demonstrates an enhanced chelate/macrocyclic effect where the spherical, pre-organized 3D cavity binds guest cations with exceptional thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness compared to crown ethers.

• Size Selectivity: The cavity radius (~1.4 Å) offers optimal steric complementarity for the potassium ion (K+K+), making it a prime textbook example of host–guest molecular recognition.

• Synthetic & Radiopharmaceutical Value: Widely used as a phase-transfer catalyst to solubilize inorganic salts in non-polar organic solvents, and as an essential precursor/reagent in nuclear medicine (e.g., preparing $[^{18}\mathrm{F}]$fluoride for PET tracer synthesis like [18F]FDG[18F]FDG).

Model Generation & Features

• Compound: Cryptand 222 (CAS: 23978-09-8, PubChem CID: 72801)

• Generator Style: Spheres (van der Waals space-filling representation)

• Mesh Quality: 50

• Hydrogen Atoms: Included (hydrogens: true)

• Scale Factor: 1

• Tool Source: 3dmolekuly.vscht.cz