Anion receptors with nitrone C-H hydrogen bond donors.

We report the use of nitrone C-H groups as hydrogen bond donors for binding anions. Acyclic anion receptors with two nitrone moieties were synthesized by condensation reactions between aryl-aldehydes and -phenylenedihydroxylamines. The solid-state structure of dinitrones revealed C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Anion binding properties were investigated using NMR titration with halide and phosphate salts.