Highly selective adenine recognition by a macrocyclic host molecule employing multiple hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions

A new macrocyclic host, which contains a 2,6-bis(oxazol-2-yl)pyridine unit and a 2,7-dialkoxynaphthalene unit tethered by the appropriate length of alkyl side chains is prepared. This host undergoes highly selective complex formation with an adenine nucleobase, accompanied by a fluorescence response in CHCl3 by a combination of multiple hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interactions.