We herein describe the preparation,
characterization, and recognition
characteristics of novel hexapodal capsule 1 composed
of two benzenes joined by six hydrogen bonding (HB) groups to encircle
space. This barrel-shaped host was obtained by reversible imine condensation
of hexakis-aldehyde 2 and hexakis-amine 3 in the presence of oxyanions or halides acting as templates. Fascinatingly,
capsule 1 includes 18 HB donating (Csp2–H
and N–H) and 12 HB accepting groups (CO and CN)
surrounding a binding pocket (78 Å3). In this regard,
the complexation of fluoride, chloride, carbonate, sulfate, and hydrogen
phosphate was probed by NMR spectroscopy (DMSO) and X-ray diffraction
analysis to disclose the adaptive nature of 1 undergoing
an adjustment of its conformation to complement each anionic guest.
Furthermore, the rate by which encapsulated chloride was substituted
by sulfate or hydrogen phosphate was slow (>7 days) while the stability
of [SO4⊂1]2– was
greatest in the series with K
a > 107 M–1 in highly competitive DMSO. With facile
access to 1, the stage is set to probe this modular,
polyvalent, and novel host to further improve the extraction of tetrahedral
oxyanions from waste and the environment or control their chemistry
in living systems.