Carbohydrate Wheels: Cucurbituril‐Based Carbohydrate Clusters

Abstract

Steering wheels: Cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) can be used as a scaffold to synthesize carbohydrate clusters in which about 11 carbohydrate moieties are attached to the periphery of the rigid macrocycle like a wheel (see picture). The clusters show enhanced selectivity and affinity in binding to specific proteins through multivalent interactions. The CB[6] cavity allows formation of host–guest complexes that can be delivered to specific cells.