In Situ Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis Mediated by a Water-Soluble Leaning Pillar[6]arene for Self-Assembly, Detection, and Catalysis.

An anionic water-soluble leaning pillar[6]arene (AWLP6) has been synthesized and utilized as both the reductant and stabilizer for the one-pot synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AWLP6-AuNPs). Interestingly, AWLP6-AuNPs show not only optimal performance in self-assembly and label-free detection of methyl viologen, one of the most widely used herbicides, but also efficient catalytic activity for the hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol.