Molecular recognition: preparation and characterization of two tripodal anion receptors

Abstract

Two new tripodal hydroxyl-based anion receptors (1 and 2) are reported and their 1 : 1 molecular complexes with Cl⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, and OAc⁻ along with the (M − 1)⁻ ion of 1 were characterized by negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase and by binding constant determinations in four solvents (i.e., CDCl₃, CD₂Cl₂, CD₃COCD₃, and CD₃CN). An intramolecular hydrogen bond network (HBN) in hexaol 1 was found to diminish its binding whereas the triol 2 is the strongest aliphatic hydroxyl-based receptor to date.