Abstract A new family of optically active cyclophane receptors for the complexation of mono- and disaccharides in competitive protic solvent mixtures is described. Macrocycles (−)-(R, R, R, R)-1–4 feature preorganized binding cavities formed by four 1, 1′-binaphthalene-2, 2′- diyl phosphate moieties bridged in the 3, 3′-positions by acetylenic or phenylacetylenic spacers. The four phosphodiester groups converge towards the binding cavity and ...
