American Chemical Society, Crystal Growth and Design, 1(14), p. 6-10, 2013
DOI: 10.1021/cg4015724
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A pyridine–urea-based receptor is found to stabilize cyclic sulfate–water hexamer [(SO4)2–(H2O)4]n4– and dihydrogen phosphate–water trimer [(H2PO4)2–H2O]n2– within its hydrophobic environment upon protonation. Anion–water clusters are stabilized by H-bonding arising from urea, water, and the pyridinium moiety. Thermal stability of anion–water clusters was established by TGA, and binding constants were determined by potentiometric titration.