A tri-aromatic amide hemicryptophane host: synthesis and acetylcholine binding

Hemicryptophanes have been designed to include endohedral functionalities in the cavity, giving molecular receptors and catalysts. In this study, a tri-aromatic amide hemicryptophane was synthesized. The host–guest interactions with various types of tetraalkylammonium salts were investigated. The structure of the partial inclusion complex in which an acetylcholine molecule was encapsulated within the hemicryptophane was characterized by NMR, X-ray crystal structure, and ESI-MS analysis.