Cucurbiturils and Related Macrocycles

Book excerpt: Cucurbiturils (CBs) are a young family of molecular containers, able to form stable complexes with various guests, including drug molecules, amino acids and peptides, saccharides, dyes, hydrocarbons, perfluorinated hydrocarbons, and proteins. Since the discovery of the first CB, the field has seen tremendous growth with respect to the synthesis of new homologues and derivatives, the discovery of record binding affinities of guest molecules in their hydrophobic cavity, and associated applications ranging from sensing to drug delivery. Cucurbiturils and Related Macrocycles provides a complete overview of CB chemistry, covering the fundamental aspects including its history, synthesis, host–guest chemistry and the thermodynamic basis thereof. The book will tackle specialist topics such as redox chemistry of CB complexes and CBs in the gas phase, and will address the recent trends of the application of CBs in other fields including biology and materials. Edited by a pioneer of cucurbituril chemistry, and with contributions from global experts, this title will appeal to students and researchers working in supramolecular chemistry, materials chemistry, nanotechnology, organic chemistry, biochemistry and chemical biology.