Binding of nitrate anion in a supramolecularly constructed macrocycle

A laterally nonsymmetric cryptand incorporating three secondary amino nitrogens in the three bridges, have been selectively mono-derivatized with 2,4-dinitrobenzene. The product upon acidification with nitric acid, forms a macrocyclic cavity through hydrogen bonding interactions. This macrocyclic cavity accepts two nitrate anions which has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.