A polyaromatic molecular tube that binds long hydrocarbons with high selectivity

作者：Yazaki Kohei; Sei Yoshihisa; Akita Munetaka; Yoshizawa Michito^*

来源：Nature Communications, 2014, 5(1): 5179.

DOI：10.1038/ncomms6179

Long hydrocarbon chains are essential components of biomolecules used for structure and function in living organisms. The selective recognition and effective binding of hydrocarbons within synthetic host compounds are problematic owing to their conformational flexibility and the lack of specific binding sites. Here we report a molecular tube with polyaromatic frameworks prepared by the Zincke cross-coupling reaction. The tube has a well-defined cylindrical cavity with a diameter and length of similar to 1nm encircled by multiple anthracene panels and thereby binds long hydrocarbons containing branched methyl groups and/or unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds (for example, heptamethylnonane, nervonic acid ester and squalene) with high selectivity in aqueous solutions.

• 出版日期2014-10