Capsular complexes of nonpolar guests with octa amine host detected in the gas phase.

Nanocapsules, made up of the deep cavitand octa amine and several guests, were prepared in aqueous acidic solution and were found to be stable in the gas phase as detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The observed gas phase host-guest complexes contained five positive charges and were associated with several acid molecules (HCl or HBr).