Special Issue "Cryptophanes and Hemicryptophanes"

Dear Colleagues,

Cryptophanes and hemicryptophanes are host molecules, built from the cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) unit, and are presently widely explored due to the development of convenient synthetic methods and to their properties attached to their lipophilic molecular cavity. In recent decades, cryptophane and hemicryptophane molecules, in addition to their well-known recognition properties, have evolved into new functional systems. For example, we can emphasize biosensing with cryptophane–xenon complexes for MRI applications and the detection of compounds of biological or environmental interest, such as gaseous substrates, carbohydrates, neurotransmitters, or persistent pollutants, to name the few, by hemicryptophane hosts.

The hemicryptophane concept was developed to afford efficient molecular receptors possessing endohedral chemical functionalities. The chemical modification of the inner cavity insures some new properties, still keeping the extraordinary recognition properties of the related cryptophanes. For instance, new generations of supramolecular catalysts were designed for the activation of small molecules in the confined space of the cavity. In addition, most of these C₃-symmetry host molecules are inherently chiral and thus capable of providing enantiopure molecular receptors. From a fundamental point of view, the enantiopure derivatives and their complexes can also be advantageously studied by chiroptical techniques.

In this Special Issue, researchers are invited to submit original research articles and relevant reviews related to the different aspects of the chemistry of cryptophanes and hemicryptophanes. The issue will also be open to related molecular receptors such as those, for instance, including tribenzotriquinacene (TBTQ) moieties. Reports on the synthesis, functionalization, and properties of systems based on cryptophanes, hemicryptophanes, and similar molecular hosts, and their impact in biological and medical sciences as well as in materials science and nanoscience will be of particular interest.

Dr. Jean-Pierre Dutasta
Guest Editor

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• Supramolecular chemistry
• Cage compounds
• Cryptophanes
• Hemicryptophanes
• Host–guest systems
• Supramolecular catalysis
• Chiral cages
• Molecular recognition
• Biosensing
• Synthetic methods