Reversible encapsulation of multiple, neutral guests in hexameric resorcinarene hosts

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Host-Guest Chemistry

Background:

• Resorcinarene cavitands are well-established molecular hosts capable of encapsulating various guest molecules.
• The controlled co-encapsulation of multiple guests within a single host system remains a significant challenge in supramolecular chemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the co-encapsulation of aromatic guest molecules with tetrabutylammonium hexabromoantimonate (Bu4SbBr) within a resorcinarene-based assembly.
• To explore the structural and chemical properties of the resulting supramolecular complex.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a resorcinarene-based molecular assembly.
• Co-encapsulation experiments involving diverse aromatic guest molecules and Bu4SbBr.
• Characterization of the encapsulated complex using spectroscopic techniques (e.g., NMR) and X-ray crystallography.

Main Results:

• Successful co-encapsulation of multiple aromatic guest molecules alongside Bu4SbBr within the resorcinarene framework was achieved.
• The stoichiometry and orientation of the guest molecules within the host cavity were determined.
• Structural analysis revealed specific interactions governing the co-encapsulation process.

Conclusions:

• The resorcinarene assembly effectively accommodates and orients multiple aromatic guests and Bu4SbBr.
• This study highlights the potential of resorcinarene-based systems for designing complex supramolecular architectures with tailored guest inclusion properties.
• The findings contribute to the understanding of host-guest interactions in multicomponent systems.