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Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Triple-ion interactions for the construction of supramolecular capsules
Gennady V Oshovsky1, David N Reinhoudt, Willem Verboom
1Laboratory of Supramolecular Chemistry and Technology, MESA Research Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
A novel type of [2+4] capsules based on triple-ion interactions was obtained. Four monovalent anions (bromide, nitrate, acetate, and tosylate) bring together two tetrakis(pyridiniummethyl)tetramethyl cavitands by pyridinium-anion-pyridinium interactions. ESI-MS experiments have confirmed the capsule structure due to different fragmentation pathways of triple ions, cations, and ion-pairs. Each capsule encapsulates one or two anions, depending on its size. The capsules exist in equilibrium with hemicapsules containing three walls. The latter form complexes with phenols and anilines to give new unsymmetrical capsules containing both pyridinium-anion-pyridinium and pyridinium-guest-pyridinium walls.
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