Synthetic receptors, host-guest molecular

Channel Mimetic Sensing Membranes Based on Host—Guest Molecular Recognition by Synthetic Receptors... 

Synthetic molecular receptors command widespread interest as mimics of membrane transport agents and enzyme active sites.[1,2] The development of new host systems for the selective complexation of organic and inorganic cations and anions has mushroomed in recent years however, examples of solution phase coordination of neutral organic molecules are few. Most of these examples involve inclusion of an aromatic hydrocarbon into the hydrophobic pocket of a water soluble cyclodextrin or cyclophane receptor.[3-6] A smaller subset of synthetic receptors possess lipophilic exteriors and hydrophilic cavities for the association of polar substrates in nonpolar media. [7-9] We report here the synthesis and characterization of a new system of the latter type designed to bind polar guests in chloroform solution. 

In fact, an emerging field of nanoscale science is envisaged in molecular capsules which can host guest molecules through noncovalent interactions. These synthetic molecular receptors exert their peculiar activity upon the conjugation of parameters such as size, shape, and chemical complementarity and are proposed for applications in catalysis of chemical reactions and for the stabihzation of reactive species [38]. For example, hollow hydrophilic metal functionahzed nanostructures can be produced from an amphiphilic metallic diblock copolymer which supramolecularly self-assemble into monodisperse noncovalently connected micelle and can be used as nanocages [39]. 

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