Consequences of the ‘Pedersen papers’ on crown type chemistry at Würzburg and Bonn Universities: From heteroaromatic crowns and podands to large molecular and crystalline cavities including multisite receptors,cascade molecules,chromoionophores, siderophores,surfactant-type,and extreme ligands

We thank the editors of this issue for the opportunity to present the historic development of crown chemistry at the Universities of Wurzburg and Bonn in memory of C. J. Pedersen, the originator of the crown ethers. His legacy of science has tremendously stimulated research at both universities.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr C. J. Pedersen.     

The use of 1H NMR microscopy to study proton-exchange membrane fuel cells.

To understand proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) better, researchers have used several techniques to visualize their internal operation. This Concept outlines the advantages of using 1H NMR microscopy, that is, magnetic resonance imaging, to monitor the distribution of water in a working PEMFC. We describe what a PEMFC is, how it operates, and why monitoring water distribution in a fuel cell is important. We will focus on our experience in constructing PEMFCs, and demonstrate how 1H NMR microscopy is used to observe the water distribution throughout an operating hydrogen PEMFC. Research in this area is briefly reviewed, followed by some comments regarding challenges and anticipated future developments.     

A multi-color and white-light emissive cucurbituril/ terpyridine/ lanthanide supramolecular nanofiber

The enhanced lanthanide white-emission in solid by cucurbituril-based supramolecular assembly may provide a new strategy for smart light-emitting materials.     

Crystalline Inclusion Compounds Derived from Derivatives of Mandelic Acid. Host Synthesis, Inclusion Formation, and X-Ray Structures of a Free Host Compound and of DMSO Inclusion Complexes in Both Racemic and Optically Resolved Forms

New chiral host compounds based on mandelic acid derivatives having methyl (6a, b and 8a, b) or bromo substituents (7a, b) attached to the phenyl ring of mandelic acid and involving additional aromatic groups were synthesized. The inclusion properties of both the racemic and the optically resolved host species are reported, including solvent co-crystallization as well as chiroselective and vapour sorptive inclusion. The structures of the free racemic host compound 6b and of the DMSO inclusion compounds of optically resolved and racemic 8 (8a and 8b, respectively) have been determined by X-ray analysis. Enantiomeric pairs of molecules in 6b form centro-symmetric dimers by mutual hydrogen bonding of one hydroxyl group while the other is involved in O-–H ... interactions. The guest molecules in the DMSO complexes of 8a and 8b are bound via hydrogen bonds to two host molecules related by translation along crystallographic axes. Parallels to previous hosts of this type are drawn.