Encapsulation of halides within the cavity of a pentafluorophenyl-substituted tripodal amine receptor.

Pentafluorophenyl-substituted tripodal amine L, tris[[(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)amino]ethyl]amine, is becoming a potential receptor for encapsulation of Cl- and Br- within the pseudo-C3-symmetric tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (L1) cavity upon protonation of the secondary amines. 1H NMR titration results indicate that [H3L]3+ binds with Cl- and Br- strongly compared to the [H3L2]3+ receptor, where L2 is N,N',N' '-tris[(2-benzylamino)ethyl]amine.