Engineering organic macrocycles and cages: versatile bonding approaches.
The emergence of supramolecular chemistry has led to the discovery of a rising number of macrocycles and cages with a range of functionalities. Most of these supramolecular aggregates are metal coordination networks, whereas pure organic assemblies are less developed. Organic macrocycles and cages have the advantages of chemical robustness, processability in organic solvents, and suitability for pilot-scale applications. They are constructed primarily from covalent bonds, with irreversible and reversible bond types. We herein highlight the use of different versatile bonding approaches in engineering these soft materials, as well as their emerging applications, such as gas storage, thin films, liquid crystals, and catalysis.
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602 (Singapore).
Sheng-Li
SL
Huang
Guo-Xin
GX
Jin
He-Kuan
HK
Luo
T S Andy
TS
Hor
cage compounds; discrete compound; macrocycles; soft material; supramolecular chemistry