A Water-Soluble Naphthalenediimide-Containing Hexacationic Cage

A water-soluble cage containing three naphthalenediimide (NDI) units was synthesized in a one-pot manner without chromatographic purification, during which six irreversible C-N bonds formed simultaneously via an S(N)2 reaction. The cage was observed to be capable of accommodating a variety pi-electron rich guests in a peripheral manner in water. However, for linear guests including I-3(-) and I-2, the cage is able to form an inclusion complex. Besides, in the solid state, the cage can absorb vapor of I-2.