Triazole functionalized acyclic cucurbit[n]uril-type receptors: host·guest recognition properties

Abstract

We report the synthesis of three new triazole functionalized acyclic CB[n]-type receptors (2–4) by click chemistry. The compounds have good solubility in water (≥8 mM) and do not undergo strong self-association (K_s ≤ 903 M⁻¹). We measured the binding constants of 2–4 toward guests 9–24 and compared the results to those obtained for the prototypical acyclic CB[n]-type receptor 1. The X-ray crystal structure of 4 is also described.