Deep cavitands for anion recognition

The synthesis of deep cavitands 1 and 2 bearing dipyrrolylquinoxaline walls is presented. Spectroscopy showed that 1 and 2 complex inorganic anions such as F− and CH3C(O)O− in aprotic organic solvents. In addition, the cavity in 2 is capable of hosting neutral guest species—adamantane and cyclohexane derivatives, as well as N-Me quinuclidinium cations—with high kinetic stability of the complexes.