Self-organized heteroditopic macrocyclic superstructures

The synthesis of heteroditopic macrocyclic ureido receptors and of their NaX complexes is described. NMR studies and determination of the crystal structure show the formation of self-organized dimeric or polymeric superstructures by a cooperative macrocyclic cation complexation, anion-hydrogen bonding, and pi-pi stacking interactions. Membrane transport experiments show a direct relation between the synergetic ion-pair recognition and the transport properties of these molecular information transfer devices.