Synthesis and aqueous anion recognition of an imidazolium-based nonacationic cup

An imidazolium-based nonacationic cup ( 1 ·9X; X = PF 6 − or Cl − ) was synthesized via step-by-step S N 2 reactions without using any template. The water-soluble 1 ·9Cl − as a molecular container can encapsulate anionic nucleoside triphosphate and dinucleotide molecules ( e.g. , ATP and NADH) inside its cavity through hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions in aqueous solution. An imidazolium-based nonacationic cup exhibited anionic recognition for nucleoside molecules such as ATP and NADH via C-H A − ionic hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic effects, and electrostatic interactions in aqueous solution.