Binaphthyl-Based Chiral Macrocyclic Hosts for the Selective Recognition of Iodide Anions.

In this study, we explorethe synthesis of binaphthyl-based chiral macrocyclic hosts for the first time. They exhibited the selective recognition abilities of iodide anions which can be favored over those of other anions (AcO - , NO 3 - , ClO 4 - , HSO 4 - , Br - , PF 6 - , H 2 PO 4 - , BF 4 - , and CO 3 F 3 S - ), as confirmed by UV-vis, HRMS, and 1 H NMR spectroscopy experiments, as well as DFT calculations. Neutral aryl C-H···anion interactions play an important role in the formation complexes. The recognition process can be observed by the naked eye.