Specific recognition of formaldehyde by a cucurbit[10]uril-based porous supramolecular assembly incorporating adsorbed 1,8-diaminonaphthalene

We report herein a cucurbit[10]uril-based porous supramolecular assembly (A) that is readily obtained in the presence of [ZnCl4]2− as a structure-directing agent in HCl solution. Loading the Q[10]-based porous supramolecular assembly A with various fluorophore guests, including various dyes and fused-ring compounds, yielded solid luminescent materials showing fluorescence enhancement or quenching or emission color change. Moreover, these solid luminescent materials could respond to certain volatile organic compounds. In particular, the assembly obtained by loading A with 1,8-diaminonaphthalene exhibited a distinct response to formaldehyde and could be used as a solid sensor.