The effective taste masking of alkaloids by a water-soluble terphen[3]arene.

The synthesis of the first water-soluble 2,2'',4,4''-terphen[3]arene bearing sulphonatopropoxy moieties (STP3) and its effective alleviation of aversive responses to alkaloids in vitro and in vivo , via the formation of supramolecular complexes, have been described. Using such direct host-guest complexation, STP3 has potential applications as an efficient taste-masking macrocyclic container for use in pharmaceutical research.