Synthesis and application of pillar[n]arene

Abstract

The synthesis, development and application of the new supramolecular host - pillar[n]arene in recent four years are reviewed. Two main synthetic strategies were employed in the synthesis of pillar[n]arene and its derivatives: "firstly cyclization then modification" and "firstly modification then cyclization". Owing to its special conformational structures and physical and chemical properties, pillar[n]arene has been mainly applied to the fields such as host-guest complex and molecular recognition, construction of assembly and smart materials. © 2012 Chinese Chemical Society & SIOC, CAS.