A directly-linked cyclic pyrene tetramer as a back-to-back receptor for two fullerenes

Abstract

As a homoditopic back-to-back host molecule, a cyclic 1,8-pyrenylene tetramer CP4 having two cavities for guest complexation was investigated. The unique two-face structural feature of CP4 allows it to bind spherical pristine fullerenes. The host-guest interactions were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.