Electron Donor‐Acceptor Interactions in Host‐Guest Complexes in Organic Solutions

Specific complexation in biological systems is based to a large extent on electron donor-acceptor interactions, the importance of which have been demonstrated quantitatively in the model system consisting of the host molecule 1 and 2,6-disubstituted naphthalenes. The electron-rich compound 1 forms the best complexes with naphthalene derivatives having two acceptor substituents.