4-Sulfocalix[4]arene/Cucurbit[7]uril-Based Supramolecular Assemblies through the Outer Surface Interactions of Cucurbit[ n]uril

Xiao Tian; Li Xia Chen; Yu Qing Yao; Kai Chen; Min-Dong Chen; Xi Zeng; Zhu Tao

doi:10.1021/acsomega.8b00829

4-Sulfocalix[4]arene/Cucurbit[7]uril-Based Supramolecular Assemblies through the Outer Surface Interactions of Cucurbit[ n]uril

ACS Omega. 2018 Jun 20;3(6):6665-6672. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.8b00829. eCollection 2018 Jun 30.

Authors

Xiao Tian¹, Li Xia Chen¹, Yu Qing Yao¹, Kai Chen², Min-Dong Chen², Xi Zeng¹, Zhu Tao¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Macrocyclic and Supramolecular Chemistry of Guizhou Province, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, People's Republic of China.
² Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Upon mixing of aqueous solutions of the freely soluble building blocks cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7]) and 4-sulfocalix[4]arene (SC[4]A), white microcrystals instantly separate in near-quantitative yield. The driving force for this assembly is suggested to be the outer-surface interaction of the Q[n]. Dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and NMR (diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy) analyses have confirmed the supramolecular aggregation of Q[7] and SC[4]A. Titration ¹H NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry have shown that the interaction ratio of Q[7] and SC[4]A is close to 3:1. Moreover, the Q[7]/SC[4]A-based supramolecular assembly can accommodate molecules of some volatile compounds or luminescent dyes. Thus, this work offers a simple and highly efficient means of preparing adsorbent or solid fluorescent materials.