Bringing a Molecular Plus One : Synergistic Binding Creates Guest-Mediated Three-Component Complexes

C-Ethyl-2-Methylresorcinarene (A), pyridine (B), and a set of ten carboxylic acids (Cn) associate to form A·B·Cn ternary assemblies with 1:1:1 stoichiometry, representing a useful class of ternary systems where the guest mediates complex formation between the host and a third component. Although individually weak in solution, the combined strength of the multiple non-covalent interactions organizes the complexes even in a highly hydrogen-bond competing methanol solution as explored by both experimental and computational methods. The interactions be-tween A·B and Cn are dependent on the pKa values of carboxylic acids. The weak interactions between A and C further reinforce the interactions b…