Tetraphenylethene-linked octacationic dicyclophanes with enhanced recognition of NADH over NAD+ in water

Tetraphenylethene-linked octacationic dicyclophanes (1, 2 and 3) with dual cavities were designed and synthesized via one-step SN2 reaction. These water-soluble dicyclophanes could bind nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides to form 1:2 host-guest complexes in water, and exhibit an enhanced recognition toward NADH over NAD+ through the cooperative endo- and exo-host-guest interactions.