Synthesis and characterisation of a new pyridinium salt/crown ether complex and its self-assembly

The monoprotonated bipyridinium cation can complex with dibenzo-24-crown-8 by means of ion-dipole and charge-transfer interactions. They both thread to form a [2]pseudorotaxane-like complex for further intercomplex association to produce pseudopolyrotaxane arrays through N + -H...N hydrogen bonding in the solid state.