Metal nanoparticle catalysts have attracted great interest
because
they possess high surface-to-volume ratios and exhibit a very large
number of catalytically active sites per unit area. However, high
surface-to-volume ratios will induce nanoparticle aggregates during
the catalytic reactions, making them lose their catalytic activity.
In this work, a monoterpyridine-unit-functionalized pillar[5]arene
(TP5) was synthesized successfully, which can be used as anchoring
sites for the controllable preparation of well-dispersed palladium
nanoparticles [TP5/Pd(0) NPs]. The as-prepared TP5/Pd(0) NPs were
fully characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission
electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Importantly, the
ultrafine TP5/Pd(0) NPs are found to be excellent and reusable catalysts
for the reduction of nitrophenols in aqueous solution.
Two pillar[5]arene-based [1]rotaxanes with salicylaldimine as the stopper were synthesized and characterized fully, which could be further applied in the fluorescence turn-on sensing of Zn2+ in water.
Theranostics play an important role in cancer treatment due to its realized real-time tracking of therapeutic efficacy in situ. In this work, we have designed and synthesized a terpyridine-modified pillar [5]arenes (TP5). By the coordination of terpyridine and Zn2+, the complex TP5/Zn was obtained. Then, supramolecular amphiphile can be constructed by using host–guest complexation between a polyethylene glycol contained guest (PM) and TP5/Zn. Combining the fluorescence properties from the terpyridine group and the amphiphilicity from the system, the obtained TP5/Zn/PM can further be self-assembled into fluorescent particles with diameters of about 150 nm in water. The obtained particles can effectively load anti-cancer drugs and realize living cell imaging and a precise release of the drugs.
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