Abstract

The transport of ions across molecular cages that mimic the behavior of bio-membranes has been of wide interest to researchers, but the synthesis of cage or capsular entities with ion transport properties is often challenging. A variety of molecular building blocks, such as calixarenes or cavitands, has been employed to study encapsulation and ion-transport properties. Recently, we have studied the transport of ions into the interior of gallium-containing pyrogallol[4]arene nanoassemblies, and the results of those studies are the focus of this article. Specifically, the transport of silver(I), cesium(I) and thallium(I) ions into the interior of C-butylpyrogallol[4]arene nanocapsules has been investigated. The transformation of solid-state spherical gallium hexamers to solution-phase toroidal frameworks suggests a structural rearrangement and concomitant inclusion or exclusion of ions in solution. Cation…π interactions and the anion position in the assembly play important roles in the stability of the inclusion complexes.

Keywords: Supramolecular chemistry, Ion-molecule interactions, Solution, Spheres, Toroids, NMR, SANS.