Hemicryptophane: A Viable Supramolecular Approach to Improve Chlordecone Removal from Water

Abstract

The persistent organic pollutant chlordecone massively contaminates water resources of the French West Indies. Hemicryptophanes are cages capable of complexing chlordecone in organic solvents. Here we demonstrate that a hemicryptophane cage is not only able to recognize this pollutant in chloroform but is also efficient for the removal of chlordecone from water. This evidences that, beyond our previously reported proof of concept, this receptor could be apply as a direct and efficient depolluting agent, making it a promising system for applied supramolecular chemistry. A simple pH switch (basic washing) enables the release of chlordecone from the host, under its deprotonated form, allowing the empty supramolecular cage to be recycled and reused. This method for recycling the receptor, is to the best of our knowledge unprecedented.