CHAPTER 12: Pillararene-related macrocycles

Abstract

Comprised of a [1n]paracyclophane framework, the backbones of pillararenes are among the most general and versatile building blocks in supramolecular chemistry. With the right type of substitution, the structural, electronic, optical, and supramolecular binding properties of such macrocycles can be fine-tuned, leading to a wealth of potential applications which include (i) the creation of molecular magnets, (ii) selective sensing of biologically relevant guests, (iii) cleanup of nuclear waste, and (iv) gas adsorption and storage, in addition to (v) the controlled synthesis of metal-directed or covalent nanotubes. This chapter presents several pillararene-related compounds, which encompass heteroatom-bridged [1n]cyclophanes, collarenes, cyclic iptycenes, asararenes, and amino-substituted pillararenes.