Gas phase molecular recognition of aromatic amino acid and aromatic carboxylic acid guests with a supramolecular [(eta(5)-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium(2'-deoxyadenosine)](3)(3+) cyclic trimer host via non-covalent pi-pi interactions utilizing electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy

A novel, gas phase, host-guest molecular recognition process, detected by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, using guests that encompass aromatic amino acids and aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids with a supramolecular, bioorganometallic host, [Cp*Rh(2'-deoxyadenosine)](3)[OTf](3) (Cp* = eta(5)-C5Me5), is found to occur predominately via non-covalent pi-pi interactions; non-covalent hydrophobic forces apparently being weak or non-existent.