Thiourea-based receptors for an on recognition and sensing

Anion recognition and sensing have been developed into an important research subject in supramolecular chemistry. Noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, etc. are the most important binding forces existing in the anion-receptor binding complexes, which forms the basis of designing anion binding receptors. The design, construction and anion recognition and sensing of thiourea-based receptors following mainly multi hydrogen bonding interactions are reviewed. 51 key references were cited to represent the related advances in the past 5 years.