Metal Assembly of Cyclodextrin Recognition Sites

Cyclodextrin recognition sites are assembled in macromolecular structures by using metal assembly principles. Methylated cyclodextrins are functionalised with bidentate bipyridine and tridentate terpyridine units to give versatile receptor ligands, β-CD−mbpy and β-CD−ttp, respectively, for metal complexation. Tris-cyclodextrin complexes are prepared by reaction of the β-CD−mbpy receptor with iron(II) and by reaction of β-CD−ttp with europium(III). The latter leads to a luminescent complex with three recognition sites around the luminescent metal core. Bis-cyclodextrin complexes are prepared by addition of iron(II) to β-CD−ttp. The characterisation of the compounds and their luminescent properties are reported.