Chemical Communications 2013-03-18

Urea-functionalized crystalline capsules for recognition and separation of tetrahedral oxoanions.

Radu Custelcean

Index: Chem. Commun. (Camb.) 49(22) , 2173-82, (2013)

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Abstract

The persistent ability of tripodal TREN-based tris-urea receptors (TREN = tris(2-aminoethyl)amine) to self-assemble with a variety of oxoanions into dimeric capsules upon crystallization is reviewed. The capsule crystallization allows for charge-, shape-, and size-selective encapsulation of tetrahedral XO(4)(n-) anions (n = 2,3), and provides an effective way to separate these anions from competitive aqueous environments.