A pillar[5]arene and crown ether fused bicyclic host: synthesis, guest discrimination and simultaneous binding of two guests with different shapes, sizes and electronic constitutions

A bicyclic host molecule 1 consisting of a pillar[5]arene and a 1,5-dioxynaphthalene-based crown ether unit has been synthesized, and the two cyclic subunits in 1 were found to recognize two different guest molecules (1,4-dicyanobutane and paraquat) selectively or take up the two guest molecules simultaneously.