Direct syntheses of cucurbit[7]uril-anchored polyacrylic acid microspheres and adsorption of basic dyes by the derivativeElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5ra09064d

A one-pot strategy was employed to synthesize a series of water-soluble cucurbit[7]uril-anchored polyacrylic acids (Q[7]-anchored PAAs) with high yields in the presence of an ammonium persulfate salt as both an initiator and an oxidant. The effects of acrylic acid, Q[7] feed mass and APS concentration on the formation of polymer nanocapsules have been investigated. The Q[7]-anchored PAAs can be further esterified with 2-naphthol to yield water-insoluble derivatives, which are characteristic of the stationary phase for absorption of basic dyes, especially neutral red. A series of cucurbit[7]uril-anchored polyacrylic acids were synthesized using (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 as both an initiator and oxidant. The polymers were further esterified with 2-naphthol to yield derivatives, which could be used as a stationary phase for the absorption of basic dyes.