A glycoluril dimer-triptycene hybrid receptor: synthesis and molecular recognition properties

The strategic combination of the methylene bridged glycoluril dimer and triptycene skeletons delivers acyclic water soluble hybrid receptor 1 which is analogous to cucurbit[6]uril. The molecular recognition properties of host 1 toward hydrophobic cationic guests are investigated in detail by a combination of H-1 NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies. The fluorescence emission of 1 can be selectively and efficiently quenched upon the formation of 126 and 128 complexes.