Opposing substitution in cucurbit[6]urils forms ellipsoid cavities: the symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril is no exception highlighted by inclusion and exclusion complexes

The symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril has been synthesised by the controlled condensation of the diether of cyclohexanoglycoluril (1) and the dimer of glycoluril (2). The symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril, (CyH)2Q[6], characterised by the 1H NMR spectroscopy, ESMS and further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction of a cobalt aqua exclusion complex, which demonstrates an ellipsoid cavity. Within a cucurbit[6]uril ellipsoid cavity, an inclusion complex of 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine adopts a preferred orientation, aligning with the longest axis. The ellipsoid cavity is further supported by semiempirical AM1 gas phase calculations. Preferential orientation of a guest within the ellipsoid cavity of the symmetrical dicyclohexanocucurbit[6]uril