Coordination and recognition of lanthanide cations by a methyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril derived from 3α-methyl-glycoluril

The interactions between a series of lanthanide cations (Ln3+) and a methyl-substituted cucurbit[6]uril derived from 3α-methyl-glycoluril (SHMeQ[6]) in the presence of [CdCl4]2 − as a structure-directing agent in aqueous HCl solutions (6.0 mol·L − 1) have been investigated. The formation of ionic radius-dependent complexes, the crystal structures of six of which have been obtained, shows the recognition ability of SHMeQ[6] towards lanthanide cations. For example, SHMeQ[6] forms molecular capsule-like complexes with the two lightest lanthanide cations, La3+ and Ce3+; molecular pairs with Nd3+, Sm3+, Eu3+ and Gd3+, and no solid crystals are formed with the heavier lanthanides.