Mixed substrate supermolecules: Binding of organic substrates and of metal ions to heterotopic coreceptors containing porphyrin subunits

The macrotetracyclic and macropentacyclic compounds (1)-(3), which combine porphyrin rings and [18]-N₂O₄ aza-oxamacrocycles as substrate selective binding subunits, complex diammonium ions ⁺H ₃N-[CH₂]_n-NH₃⁺ (anchored to the [18]-N₂O₄ sites and included in the central molecular cavity), and/or Zn¹¹ ions (bound to the porphyrin groups), thus yielding organic/inorganic mixed substrate supramolecular structures.