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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
Binding and Assembly of a Benzotriazole Cavitand in Water
Faiz-Ur Rahman1, Rui Wang1, Hui-Bin Zhang1
1Center for Supramolecular Chemistry & Catalysis and Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Shanghai University, 99 Shang-Da Road, Shanghai, 200444, China.
Abstract:
A water-soluble cavitand bearing a benzotriazole upper rim was prepared and characterized. It exists as a dimeric velcraplex in D2 O, but forms host-guest complexes with hydrophobic and amphiphilic guests. Alkanes (C5 to C10), cyclic ketones (C6-C10), cyclic alcohols (C6-C8) and various amphiphilic guests form 1 : 1 cavitand complexes. A cyclic array of hydrogen bonds, bridged by solvent/water (D2 O) molecules, stabilizes the vase conformation of the complexes. With longer alkanes (C12-C15), symmetrical dialkyl amine, urea and phosphate, 2 : 1 host:guest capsules are formed. Computations indicate that additional waters on the upper rim create a self-complementary hydrogen-bonding pattern for capsule formation.
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