A polyaromatic molecular tube that binds long hydrocarbons with high selectivity.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 25322998.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/ncomms6179.
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Abstract
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 ~1 nm 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.