Using Slippage to Construct a Prototypical Molecular "Lock & Lock" Box

Org Lett. 2021 Aug 6;23(15):5787-5792. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c01945. Epub 2021 Jul 9.

Abstract

We report a new slippage system based on p-tert-butylbenzyl-terminated imidazolium ions and di(ethylene glycol)-containing macrocycles and their use as linking units for the construction of a prototypical molecular "Lock & Lock" box from a resorcinarene-based cavitand "bowl" and a porphyrin "cover". The multivalent structure with four slippage linkers provided the molecular box with high stability, yet the system dissociated into its two components upon application of suitable external stimuli.