Molecular Capsules Based on Common Macrocycles Self-Assembly

Abstract

Molecular capsules are amazing and fascinating because of their unusual structure and nanospaces.These unique microenvironments and nano-structures ultimately ensure their potential for applications in materials science, biological science, drug delivery and catalysis.Molecular capsules could be constructed by covalent bonds or non-covalent bonds with many kinds of different components.This article describes the syntheses and properties of a library of diverse molecular capsules by non-covalent bonds with common macrocycles, which covers (i) cyclodextrins based systems, (ii) calix[n]arenes based systems, (iii) calic[n]pyrroles based systems, (iv) porphyrins based systems, (v) cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) based systems, and finally (vi) cucurbit[n]urils based systems.These building blocks afford molecular capsules based on the self-assembly of several units, which is primarily driven by the interplay of weak attractions that act over short distances between molecules, including hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interaction, aromatic π-stacking, van der Waal's interactions, etc.These versatile molecular capsules providing different nanospaces, some of which are controllable and adjustable, could encapsulate different kinds of interesting guests in solution or solid states.