Supramolecular chemistry self-assembling capsules

The design and synthesis of supramolecular architectures with parallel control over shape and dimensions is a challenging task in current organic chemistry [13, 14], The information stored at a molecular level plays a key role in the process of self-assembly. Recent examples of nanoscopic supramolecular complexes from outside the dendrimer held include hydrogen-bonded rosettes [15,16], polymers [17], sandwiches [18, 19] and other complexes [20-22], helicates [23], grids [24], mushrooms [25], capsules [26] and spheres [27]. 

Self-assembly has also been applied to numerous different classes of complexes in supramolecular chemistry [26]. Since we cannot discuss them all here, Fig. 1.3 shows only one example of a capsule reversibly formed from two identical self-complementary monomers which are bound to each other by hydrogen bonding... 

FIGU RE 7.4 Resordn[4]arene in a wet organic solvent self-assembles foimii the hexameric capsule that can host cationic gnests. (Adapted from Scarso A, Borsato G. Self-assembly of organic supramolecular capsules. In Gale PA, Steed JW, editors. Supramolecular chemistry from molecules to nanomaterials, vol. 5. Chichester, UK Wiley 2012, p. 2085-2114.)... 

The chemistry of supramolecular polymers has been extensively reviewed [5], In the past two decades, general overviews as well as more specific surveys have focused on individual classes of polymers or on the mechanisms and thermodynamics of supramolecular polymerization. The present chapter aims to retrace the genesis and the evolutiOTi of that subgroup of supramolecular polymers that share the calix[5]arene skeletmi as their common building block. To this end, relevant examples of dimeric capsules and/or encapsulation complexes key to the subsequent design of polycapsular AA/BB-type arrays, as well as discoveries pivotal to an effective self-assembly of AB-type architectures are surveyed in parallel. 

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