Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.

Abstract

A bis‐acridinium cyclophane incorporating switchable acridinium moieties linked by a 3,5‐dipyridylanisole spacer was studied as a multi‐responsive host for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon guests. Complexation of perylene was shown to be the most effective and was characterized in particular by a charge‐transfer band as signal output. Effective catch and release of the guest was triggered by both chemical (proton/hydroxide) and redox stimuli. Moreover, the dicationic host was also easily switched between organic and perfluorocarbon phases for applications related to the enrichment of perylene from a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.