ChemInform Abstract: Pillararenes: Versatile Synthetic Receptors for Supramolecular Chemistry

: Metal-free organocatalysts are becoming an important tool for the sustainable developments of various bioactive heterocycles. On the other hand, during last two decades, calix[n]arenes have been gaining considerable attention due to their wide range of applicability in the field of supramolecular chemistry. Recently, sulfonic acid functionalized calix[n] arenes are being employed as an efficient alternative catalyst for the synthesis of various bioactive scaffolds. In this review we have summarized the catalytic efficiency of p-sulfonic acid calix[n]arenes for the synthesis of diverse biologically promising scaffolds under various reaction conditions. There is no such review available in the literature showing the catalytic applicability of p-sulfonic acid calix[n]arenes. Therefore, we strongly believe that this review will surely attract those researchers who are interested about this fascinating organocatalyst.

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Supra-Amphiphiles: A New Bridge Between Colloidal Science and Supramolecular Chemistry

Langmuir ◽

10.1021/la500327s ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (21) ◽

pp. 5989-6001 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Yuetong Kang ◽

Kai Liu ◽

Xi Zhang

Keyword(s):

Supramolecular Chemistry ◽

Colloidal Science

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Selective Recognition of Amino Acids and Peptides by Small Supramolecular Receptors

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26010106 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 106

Author(s):

Joana N. Martins ◽

João Carlos Lima ◽

Nuno Basílio

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Selective Recognition ◽

Great Promise ◽

Macrocyclic Compounds ◽

Synthetic Receptors ◽

Small Peptides ◽

Molecular Imprinted Polymers ◽

Polymeric Systems ◽

Physiological Conditions ◽

Level Information

To this day, the recognition and high affinity binding of biomolecules in water by synthetic receptors remains challenging, while the necessity for systems for their sensing, transport and modulation persists. This problematic is prevalent for the recognition of peptides, which not only have key roles in many biochemical pathways, as well as having pharmacological and biotechnological applications, but also frequently serve as models for the study of proteins. Taking inspiration in nature and on the interactions that occur between several receptors and peptide sequences, many researchers have developed and applied a variety of different synthetic receptors, as is the case of macrocyclic compounds, molecular imprinted polymers, organometallic cages, among others, to bind amino acids, small peptides and proteins. In this critical review, we present and discuss selected examples of synthetic receptors for amino acids and peptides, with a greater focus on supramolecular receptors, which show great promise for the selective recognition of these biomolecules in physiological conditions. We decided to focus preferentially on small synthetic receptors (leaving out of this review high molecular weight polymeric systems) for which more detailed and accurate molecular level information regarding the main structural and thermodynamic features of the receptor biomolecule assemblies is available.

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