Charge-transfer inclusion complex formation of the tropylium cation with prism[6]arenes

Abstract

Herein, we report that prism[6]arenes (PrS[6]^R) can form charge-transfer (CT) inclusion complexes with tropylium tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]borate (G) in chloroform solution with an obvious CT band at 560 nm. Moreover, the CT complex PrS[6]^Et⊃G showed Cl⁻/Ag⁺ responsiveness which can be easily monitored by the naked eye.