A monophosphoryl copillar[5]arene: synthesis and host–guest complexation with alkanols

A monophosphoryl copillar[5]arene 1 was prepared. The introduction of the phosphoryl group remarkably promoted the binding affinity of 1 with alkanols and alkanediols in comparison with 1,4-dimethoxypillar[5]arene. Thus 1 can form a stable 1 : 1 host–guest complex with alkanols in CDCl3.