Self-assembly of a ternary architecture driven by cooperative Hg2+ ion binding between cucurbit[7]uril and crown ether macrocyclic hosts.

A novel supramolecular assembly comprising CB[7], styrylpyridinium dye (1) and Hg(2+) forms in aqueous solution based on the hydrophobic effect and metal-ligand and ion-dipole interactions. The binding of Hg(2+) to 1·CB[7] displays positive cooperativity relative to 1 itself.