Abiotic host-guest complexation

Affinity and selectivity in directional supramolecular systems are composite responses of frequently counteracting influences. The analysis of structure in many instances may then be a dull tool in their study because of the averaging between rapidly interconverting species. Here, an example from abiotic host-guest complexation demonstrates the utility of an energetic analysis how to avoid the pitfall of false reasoning that may follow from all too simple complementarity concepts. 

This chapter is primarily concerned with the recent syntheses and coordination chemistry of abiotic receptor systems, and hopes to provide through examples a series of broad principles for selective host-guest complexation applicable to the future design and development of new chemical sensors. 

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