Synthesis and guest-binding study of polytopic multi(cyclophane) hosts

Novel bis(cyclophanes) bearing glucosides and pentakis(cyclophanes) bearing glucosides were prepared as water-soluble hosts by connecting two or five macrocyclic skeletons, respectively. The guest-binding affinities of the present bis(cyclophanes) and pentakis(cyclophanes) toward a hydrophobic dye, 6-p-toluidinonaphthalene-2-sulfonate, were enhanced 13- and 1200-fold, respectively, relative to that by a corresponding monocyclic cyclophane, reflecting multivalency effects in macrocycles.