New 2-aminoethylimidazole-based dicarboxylic acid receptor derived from cholestane

A new facial amphiphile cholestane-based receptor 1 containing a 2-imidazolylethylamino moiety at the 3α and 7α positions of cholestane was synthesized. Recognition selectivity of the new receptor 1 with various dicarboxylic acids was assessed by 1H NMR titration. Maleic acid showed the highest binding constant among all the tested acids (Ka = 9.36 × 104 M−1).