Cavitands

Cavitands are programmable abiotic receptors capable of hosting shape complementary guests through specific weak interactions, such as hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking, CH–π, and cation–π. Both the upper and the lower rims of cavitands can be decorated with proper functional groups to modulate the complex properties, to impart solubility, or to graft them on solid surfaces. In this chapter, selected examples, where the molecular recognition properties of cavitands have been adapted to fulfill specific requirements, will be reported. These cases are by far not exhaustive, but sufficiently indicative to highlight the appeal of cavitands as modular receptors. In particular, the use of cavitands as gas-phase preconcentrators and sensors, liquid-phase sensors, molecular grippers, supramolecular catalysts, monomers for supramolecular polymers, and membrane-bound synthetic receptors will be illustrated. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the almost unlimited possibilities of these receptors to offer innovative solutions in many different fields, spanning from biology to materials science.