Recognition of C60 by tetra- and tri-quinoxaline cavitands

Molecular recognition of C60 fullerene by two cavitands, bearing four and three quinoxaline walls, is reported here. Fluorescence titrations show the recognition ability of the receptors with high binding constant values. The formation of a stable 1:1 supramolecular complex was also confirmed by DOSY, EI-MS and X-ray analysis. The crystal structure analysis of tetraquinoxaline cavitand and C60 shows a crystal packing, where C60 molecules are intercalated between bilayers of cavitand molecules, on the ideal fourfold symmetry axis of the receptor, and are arranged in a zigzag motif.