Improved
methods for quickly identifying neutral organic compounds
and differentiation of analytes with similar chemical structures are
widely needed. We report a new approach to effectively “fingerprint”
neutral organic molecules by using <sup>19</sup>F NMR and molecular
containers. The encapsulation of analytes induces characteristic up-
or downfield shifts of <sup>19</sup>F resonances that can be used
as multidimensional parameters to fingerprint each analyte. The strategy
can be achieved either with an array of fluorinated receptors or by
incorporating multiple nonequivalent fluorine atoms in a single receptor.
Spatial proximity of the analyte to the <sup>19</sup>F is important
to induce the most pronounced NMR shifts and is crucial in the differentiation
of analytes with similar structures. This new scheme allows for the
precise and simultaneous identification of multiple analytes in a
complex mixture
