Synthesis and characterization of new aromatic tweezers and complex formation with tropylium ion in 1,2-dichloroethane

A series of benzene and pyridine tweezers bearing phenyl, naphthyl and anthryl receptor units was prepared and characterized. The x-ray crystal structure of the 1,3-bis(9-methanolanthracene)methylbenzene ligand (5) is reported. UV–visible and NMR spectroscopy were used to investigate the host–guest chemistry of the new ligands in complexation with tropylium tetrafluoroborate as a model aromatic cationic guest in 1,2-dichloroethane. The appearance of coloured charge-transfer absorption bands demonstrates the complex formation with a tropylium ion. The enlargement of aryl receptor size from phenyl and naphthyl to anthryl increases the stability of complexes. Electron donor–acceptor interactio…