Efficient fluoride-selective receptor: experiment and theory

A novel artificial receptor, (3′-nitrobenzo)[2,3-d]-(3′′-nitrobenzo)[9,10-d]-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-5,7,12,14-tetraone, has been synthesized and shows high selective and recognitive ability for F^- among F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, AcO⁻, H₂PO₄⁻ by UV-vis and ¹H NMR titration experiments. Theoretical investigations suggest that the fluoride selectivity among various anions comes from the fact that the fluoride approaches much closer to the amide protons than other anions located above the cavity. The interaction energies support the large binding ability difference between F⁻ and Cl⁻/Br⁻/AcO⁻/H₂PO₄⁻.