We report the synthesis and characterization of a three-dimensional tetraphenylethene-based octacationic cage that shows host–guest recognition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. coronene) in organic media and water soluble dyes (e.g. sulforhodamine 101) in aqueous media through CH···π, π–π, and/or electrostatic interactions. The cage⊃coronene exhibits a cuboid internal cavity with a size of approximately 17.2 X 11.0 X 6.96 Å3 and a “hamburger”-type host–guest complex, which is hierarchically stacked into 1D nanotubes and a 3D supramolecular framework. The free cage possesses a similar cavity in the crystalline state. Furthermore, a host–guest complex formed between the octacationic cage and sulforhodamine 101 had a higher absolute quantum yield (F = 28.5%), larger excitation–emission gap (ex-em = 211 nm), and longer emission lifetime (t = 7.0 ns) as compared to the guest (F = 10.5%; ex-em = 11 nm; t = 4.9 ns), and purer emission (DlFWHM = 38 nm) as compared to the host (FWHM = 111 nm).

原文链接：https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.201912730