CONTROL OF SELF-ASSEMBLY AND REVERSIBLE ENCAPSULATION OF XENON IN A SELF-ASSEMBLING DIMER BY ACID-BASE CHEMISTRY

Two new self-complementary molecules are described which are capable o f assembling into dimeric capsules. The size and shape of the cavity f ollow previous designs, but peripheral functional groups permit enhanc ed solubility. Binding of CH4, H2C=CH2, and xenon within the capsules is demonstrated. Peripheral basic sites on one of the capsules permit the control of assembly by protonation/deprotonation reactions. The en capsulation of xenon is demonstrated for the more organic soluble caps ule by proton and xenon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.