Triptycene-derived macrotricyclic polyether containing an anthracene unit as a powerful host for 1,2-bis(pyridium) ethane, diquat and 2,7-diazapyrenium salt

Triptycene-derived macrotricyclic polyether containing an anthracene unit is a powerful host for 1,2-bis(pyridium) ethane, diquat and 2,7-diazapyrenium salt with association constants of the 1 : 1 complexes at >10(5) M-1. Crystal structures showed that pi-pi stacking interactions between the host and the guests play an important role in the formation of the stable complexes.