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The figure shows a molecular model of one such conical dendron in cubic phase. In (a, b) a dendron unit pair with its aliphatic chains in all-trans conformation provides the lower bound for the hollow core diameter Dcore. In (c) a spherical supramolecular assembly with a surface added to the aromatic region is shown.

The functionalization of the apex of the conical dendrons with diethylene glycol allowed the encapsulation of LiOTf and RbOTf in the center of the hollow sphere. These experiments showed that hollow spheres function as supramolecular dendritic capsules and therefore, are expected to display functions that are complementary to other related molecular and supramolecular structures