The synthesis of
four fluorescent diastereoisomeric molecular cages
containing cyclotriveratrylene and sucrose moieties connected
via
the naphthalene linkers is reported. These diastereoisomers
were found to be selective and efficient receptors for acetylcholine
and choline. Compound
P
-5a
has a better
affinity for choline over acetylcholine, while cage
M
-5a
exhibits a higher association constant for acetylcholine
over choline. The highest selectivity value was observed for compound
M
-5a
(
K
ACh
/
K
Ch
= 3.1). Cages
P
-5a
,
P
-5b
,
M
-5a
, and
M
-5b
were fully characterized
by the advanced NMR techniques, and ECD spectroscopy was supported
by DFT calculations. The binding constants
K
a
of these receptors were determined by fluorescence titration
experiments in acetonitrile.