AUTOENCAPSULATION THROUGH INTERMOLECULAR FORCES - A SYNTHETIC SELF-ASSEMBLING SPHERICAL COMPLEX

The synthesis and characterization of a system for the study of molecu lar recognition phenomena are described. The system involves a tetraur ea molecule that is capable of assembly into various associated states through hydrogen bonding. In organic solvents, the dynamic transition between a low-ordered (aggregate) state and a highly ordered dimeric assembly can be induced by the introduction of smaller molecules of ap propriate size and shape. These smaller molecules, such as benzene, ad amantanes, and ferrocenes, act as guests that occupy the pseudospheric al capsule formed by the dimeric host, Among various guests, those tha t best fill the cavity and offer chemical complementarity to the host are preferentially encapsulated.