Synthesis and Inclusion Properties of “Neutral” Water-Soluble Calixarenes

Abstract
“Neutral” water-soluble calix[n]arenes, 1n (n=6 and 8) were synthesized for the first time. Below the critical micelle concentrations, they formed host–guest-type complexes with naphthalenesulfonate derivatives used as fluorescence probes. The binding sites showed the hydrophobicity comparable with those of cyclodextrins, and the cavities showed the shape selectivity for these guest molecules.