Synthesis and aqueous anion recognition of an imidazolium-based nonacationic cup

Abstract

An imidazolium-based nonacationic cup (1·9X; X = PF₆⁻ or Cl⁻) was synthesized via step-by-step S_N2 reactions without using any template. The water-soluble 1·9Cl⁻ as a molecular container can encapsulate anionic nucleoside triphosphate and dinucleotide molecules (e.g., ATP and NADH) inside its cavity through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions in aqueous solution.