Anion recognition by alkyl cholates: Neutral anionophores closely related to a natural product

Alkyl cholates 2and 3have been shown to bind tridentate oxoanions using 1H NMR and solubilisation measurements in C 6D 6and benzene-hexane mixtures respectively. Recognition is presumed to occur through hydrogen bonding to the three hydroxyl groups on the α face of the steroid nucleus.