Characterization of host-guest complexes of cucurbit[n]uril (n = 6, 7) by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
When an intramolecular cavity exists in a molecule, it can trap another chemical species to form a host-guest complex. We examine the formation of such an inclusion complex with cucurbit[n]uril (CBn, n = 6, 7) as the host to trap alkali metal or ammonium ions as the guest, by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The results show that the inclusion complexes are formed between the three-dimensional cylinder of CBn hosts and the guest cations. Selectivity of the complex formation is dependent both on (1) ion-dipole interactions between the cylindrical portal of the CBn hosts and the guest cations and (2) the hydrophobic interactions at the inner cavity of CBn.
Osaka
Issey
I
Department of Applied Chemistry, Kansai University, Yamatecho, Suita 564-8680, Japan.
Kondou
Masanobu
M
Selvapalam
Narayanan
N
Samal
Shashadhar
S
Kim
Kimoon
K
Rekharsky
Mikhail V
MV
Inoue
Yoshihisa
Y
Arakawa
Ryuichi
R