Templated amplification of a naphthalenediimide-based receptor from a donor–acceptor dynamic combinatorial library in water

We report a dynamic combinatorial library that, upon binding of an electronically-complementary guest, produces in high yield a tetrameric receptor with flat hydrophobic, electron-deficient surfaces and flexible, water-soluble disulfide-containing linkers; analysis of the dependence of library composition on template concentration gives insight into the binding behaviours of the species involved.