Molecular Assemblies Offering Hydrogen-Bonding Cavities: Influence of Macrocyclic Cavity and Hydrogen Bonding on Dye Adsorption

This work presents a set of Hg macrocycles of amide-phosphine-based ligands offering H-bonding cavities of different dimensions. Such macrocycles are shown to selectively adsorb anionic dyes followed by neutral dyes as well as Prontosil, a biologically relevant antibiotic, within their cavities with the aid of H-bonding-assisted encapsulation. Kinetic experiments supported by spectroscopic and docking studies illustrate the importance of the cavity structure as well as H-bonds for the selective adsorption of dyes.

Automated summary

This study introduces a series of Hg macrocycles with amide-phosphine-based ligands that possess H-bonding cavities of different sizes. These macrocycles selectively adsorb anionic dyes, followed by neutral dyes and the biologically relevant antibiotic Prontosil, through H-bonding-assisted encapsulation. Kinetic experiments, as well as spectroscopic and docking studies, highlight the significance of cavity structure and H-bonds in the selective adsorption of dyes.