Cucurbit[6]uril–cucurbit[7]uril heterodimer promotes controlled self-assembly of supramolecular networks and supramolecular micelles by self-sorting of amphiphilic guests

Abstract

We report the synthesis of cucurbit[6]uril–cucurbit[7]uril heterodimer (1) by click chemistry of monofunctionalized CB[6] and CB[7] derivatives. Combinations of 1 with hydrophobic guest 4b or hydrophilic polymeric guests 5b and 5c deliver hydrophobic or amphiphilic supramolecular block copolymers which form supramolecular networks (6) and supramolecular micelles (7), respectively, in the solid state.