Ian M. Atkinson, Anthony R. Carroll, Ronald J. A. Janssen, Leonard F. Lindoy, Owen A. Matthews and George V. Meehan
An efficient and convergent procedure has been developed for the synthesis of a range of related, large-ring monocyclic and bicyclic (cage) receptor molecules. The interaction of one such cage 8b, incorporating three central pyridyl groups, with a number of mono-, di- and tri-phenol derivatives has been investigated. In accordance with the inference from molecular modelling, this cage exhibits preferential inclusive binding of the symmetrical guest phloroglucinol.