Cyclobenzoin Esters as Hosts for Thin Guests

Fine-Tuning Macrocycle Cavity to Selectively Bind Guests in Water for Near-Infrared Photothermal Conversion

The rational and specific synthesis of the required organic macrocycles to bind the size-matched targeted guests without undesired macrocyclic byproducts remains a great challenge. Herein, based on a new naphthalimide...

Cyclobenzoin Esters as Hosts for Thin Guests

Cyclotetrabenzoin esters can host terminal triple bonds of alkynes and nitriles in their cavities, as revealed by cocrystal structures of four such complexes. Within cyclotetrabenzoin cavities, π-clouds of triple bonds establish favorable and virtually equidistant interactions with the four aromatic walls of the cyclotetrabenzoin skeleton. Binding is selective for aliphatic nitriles and terminal alkynes, with their aromatic counterparts residing outside of the cyclotetrabenzoin cavity.