Hydrogen bonds assist the organization of up to 11 guests within self-assembling cavities of nanometer dimensions

Abstract

The self-assembly of C-methylresorcin[4]arene with 4,4′-bipyridine affords the formation of closed solid state cavities with internal volumes of ca. 1.0 nm 3 which encapsulate up to an unprecedented 11 guests involving three different molecules. These cages exhibit functionality directed into the cavities, in the form of hydrogen bond donor and acceptor sites, which assists the organization of their guests. In one case, the guests interact, with each other and the walls of the host, via 15 hydrogen bonds, to produce chiral molecular assemblies within the solid.