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Rotaxanes with amphoteric σ-hole donors for cation or anion recognition

The amphoteric character of chalcogen bonding (ChB) and halogen bonding (XB) donor atoms for anion or cation recognition is demonstrated using interlocked host molecules. A family of neutral tri- and tetradentate ChB and/or XB [2]rotaxanes exhibit Lewis acidic halide anion and Lewis basic metal cation binding at the same chalcogen or halogen donor site.

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Fig. 1: Amphoteric σ-hole XB and/or ChB [2]rotaxanes for cation or anion recognition.
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This is a summary of: Tse, Y. C., Docker, A., Marques, I., Félix, V. & Beer, P. D. Amphoteric chalcogen-bonding and halogen-bonding rotaxanes for anion or cation recognition. Nat. Chem. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01742-x (2025).

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Rotaxanes with amphoteric σ-hole donors for cation or anion recognition. Nat. Chem. 17, 316–317 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01743-w

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