Pillararene-based molecular-scale porous materials

This review discusses the design and syntheses of molecular-scale pillar[n]arene-based porous materials with promising applications and summarises the development of using pillar[n]arenes as the building blocks of porous materials. From the perspective of "role of participation" in the syntheses of molecular-scale pillar[n]arene-based porous materials, the content can be divided into pillar[n]arenes serving as supramolecular nanovalves on surfaces and as ligands for metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic polymers. By integrating pillararenes, which possess rigid pillar-like structures, electron-rich cavities and desirable host-guest properties, with porous polymers of large surface areas and abundant active sites, applications of the resulting materials in drug release platforms, molecular recognition, sensing, detection, gas adsorption, removal of water pollution, organic photovoltaic materials and heterogeneous catalysis can be realised simultaneously and efficiently. Finally, in the conclusions and perspectives part, we put forward the challenges and viewpoints of the current research on pillar[n]arene-based porous materials. We hope this article can provide a timely and valuable reference for researchers interested in synthetic macrocycles and porous materials.

Supramolecular-Macrocycle-Based Crystalline Organic Materials

Supramolecular macrocycles are well known as guest receptors in supramolecular chemistry, especially host-guest chemistry. In addition to their wide applications in host-guest chemistry and related areas, macrocycles have also been employed to construct crystalline organic materials (COMs) owing to their particular structures that combine both rigidity and adaptivity. There are two main types of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs: those constructed from macrocycles themselves and those prepared from macrocycles with other organic linkers. This review summarizes recent developments in supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs, which are categorized by various types of macrocycles, including cyclodextrins, calixarenes, resorcinarenes, pyrogalloarenes, cucurbiturils, pillararenes, and others. Effort is made to focus on the structures of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs and their structure-function relationships. In addition, the application of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs in gas storage or separation, molecular separation, solid-state electrolytes, proton conduction, iodine capture, water or environmental treatment, etc., are also presented. Finally, perspectives and future challenges in the field of supramolecular-macrocycle-based COMs are discussed.