Selective Templated Complexation of a Cylindrical Macrotricyclic Host with Neutral Guests: Three Cation-Controlled Switchable Processes

A novel triptycene-based cylindrical macrotricyclic host 1 containing an anthracene unit and two dibenzo
[24]crown-8 moieties was synthesized, and its cation binding properties were studied. It was found that
the host could not only form complex with the paraquat derivative 4, but also show selective templated
complexation with pyromellitic diimide 2 and anthraquinone 3 in the presence of lithium and potassium
ions, respectively. Consequently, two novel cascade complexes with neutral molecules as bridging species
were formed in solution and in the solid state, which were structurally studied by NMR, MS spectra, and
X-ray methods. Moreover, we also found that the association and dissociation of the complexes could be
easily achieved by the addition and removal of lithium or potassium ions, which resulted in three cation-controlled switchable processes.