Calixarene-based Anion Receptors

Abstract

The selective complexation of anions by synthetic receptors offers a great challenge to the modern chemist. The last ten years have seen a great expansion in the design of synthetic anion receptors. In particular, this review has shown that calixarenes are excellent platforms for the incorporation of numerous ligands for co-operative binding of anions. Their unique topology offers not only the potential for designed cavities, through selective functionalisation, but also the fine tuning of binding due to the hydrophobic nature of the cavity. The development of calixarene based systems has enabled greater understanding of the complex interactions involved in binding, thus offering the prospect of a number of commercial applications as extractants and sensors.