Novel Porphyrin−Cryptand Cyclic Systems: Receptors for Saccharide Recognition in Water

Abstract

Two macrocyclic porphyrin sandwich systems, 4 and 5, together with the linear compound 6 have been prepared and examined as saccharide receptors. The cyclic porphyrin-cryptand conjugates 4 and 5 bind saccharides efficiently in highly competitive media with a preference for trisaccharides probably due to a complementary topology of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvating regimes with respect to the sugar guests.