Project information
Molecular capsules based on bridged bambusurils

Bambusurils are macrocycles with a high binding affinity for inorganic anions. Previous studies have shown that while bambusuril binding affinity can be enhanced by introducing electron-withdrawing substituents, their selectivity can be tuned by attaching sterically demanding substituents that rigidify the macrocyclic structure. In this project, we propose the synthesis of rigid bambusuril derivatives with a capsule-like shape. In these capsules, glycoluril units on the opposite portals of the macrocycles are connected via alkylene bridges. Various synthetic approaches for the proposed capsules will be explored, and their subsequent modifications will be studied. The supramolecular host-guest interactions between the prepared rigid capsules and anions in different solvents will be investigated using various techniques, including isothermal titration calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.