Gas phase molecular recognition of aromatic amino acid and aromatic carboxylic acid guests with a supramolecular [(η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium(2′-deoxyadenosine)]33+ cyclic trimer host via non-covalent π–π interactions utilizing electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy†

Abstract

A novel, gas phase, host–guest molecular recognition process, detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, using guests that encompass aromatic amino acids and aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids with a supramolecular, bioorganometallic host, [Cp*Rh(2′-deoxyadenosine)]₃[OTf]₃ (Cp* = η⁵-C₅Me₅), is found to occur predominately via non-covalent π–π interactions; non-covalent hydrophobic forces apparently being weak or non-existent.