Recognition of the persistent organic pollutant chlordecone by a hemicryptophane cage

Abstract

Two molecular cages have been tested as receptors for the persistent organic pollutant chlordecone. Whereas the host bearing amide functions displays a moderate binding constant (126 M⁻¹), the receptor with a tris(2-aminoethyl)amine moiety exhibits a higher association constant (2.1 × 10⁴ M⁻¹). The recognition process was investigated by NMR experiments and DFT calculations.