Synthesis of a water-soluble naphthalene-based macrocycle and its host–guest properties

Reported here is the synthesis of a naphthalene-based macrocycle bearing anionic carboxylato groups on the rims along with its complexation with cationic guests in aqueous media. The macrocycle could strongly bind guests in a molecular clip model with association constants of 10⁶-10⁷ M^-1.