Differences in solubilities, crystal structures, NMR spectra and fluorescence emissions induced by potassium cation/benzo-21-crown-7 molecular recognition

Abstract

Molecular recognition motifs with cation-responsiveness are essential building blocks for functional assemblies and widely used to prepare advanced functional materials. In benzo-21-crown-7-involved host–guest chemistry, potassium cations are used to realize cation responsiveness by forming K⁺-crown ether complexes. The fundamental properties of potassium cation/benzo-21-crown-7 molecular recognition motifs always play a key role in realizing controllable and programable self-assembly. In this work investigations of the fundamental properties such as solubility, NMR spectra and geometry of potassium cation/benzo-21-crown-7 host–guest pairs are carried out.