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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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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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-025-01743-w