Recognition of Monomers and Polymers by Cyclodextrins

Cyclodextrins (CDs), cyclic oligomers consisting of 6, 7, 8, or more alpha(1 -> 4)-linked glucose units, are readily available, water-soluble organic host compounds that are able to complex organic guest molecules if the latter contain a suitable hydrophobic binding site. The main driving forces are nonpolar interactions such as hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions. CDs are able to recognize the thickness, polarity, and chirality of monomeric and polymeric guest molecules. In addition, functional groups can be covalently attached to CDs to modify or improve the molecular recognition capability of CDs. In this review, the binding potentials of the most important CDs and CD derivatives are summarized, and general rules for the recognition of monomeric and polymeric guests are derived. A supramolecular tool box of water-soluble hosts and guests is provided, which allows the assembly of many sophisticated supramolecular structures, as well as rotaxanes and polyrotaxanes.