Cucurbit[8]uril as building block for facile fabrication of well-defined organic crystalline nano-objects with multiple morphologies and compositions

Fuel-Driven Transient Crystallization of a Cucurbit[8]uril-Based Host-Guest Complex

Transient self-assembling systems often suffer from accumulation of chemical wastes that interfere with the formation of pristine self-assembled products in subsequent cycles. Herein, we report the transient crystallization of a cucurbit[8]uril-based host-guest complex, preventing the accumulation of chemical wastes. Base-catalyzed thermal decarboxylation of trichloroacetic acid that chemically fuels the crystallization process dissolves the crystals, and produces volatile chemical wastes that are spontaneously removed from the solution. With such self-clearance process, no significant damping in the formation of the crystals was observed. The morphology and structural integrity of the crystals was also maintained in subsequent cycles. The concept may be further extended to obtain other temporally functional materials, quasicrystals, etc., based on stimuli-responsive guest molecules.

Azo group(s) in selected macrocyclic compounds

Azobenzene derivatives due to their photo- and electroactive properties are an important group of compounds finding applications in diverse fields. Due to the possibility of controlling the trans-cis isomerization, azo-bearing structures are ideal building blocks for development of e.g. nanomaterials, smart polymers, molecular containers, photoswitches, and sensors. Important role play also macrocyclic compounds well known for their interesting binding properties. In this article selected macrocyclic compounds bearing azo group(s) are comprehensively described. Here, the relationship between compounds' structure and their properties (as e.g. ability to guest complexation, supramolecular structure formation, switching and motion) is reviewed.

Dual-responsive supramolecular colloidal microcapsules from cucurbit[8]uril molecular recognition in microfluidic droplets

Thermal and light dual-responsive supramolecular colloidal microcapsules have been successfully prepared by combining cucurbit[8]uril-based host–guest recognition with the self-assembly of colloidal particles within microfluidic droplets.

Cucurbituril-based supramolecular engineered nanostructured materials

Nanostructured materials, including nanoparticles, nanocomposites, vesicles, and rods, have been prepared by taking advantage of the interesting features of cucurbituril homologues.

Pseudopolyrotaxanes based polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes and cucurbit[7]uril

Pseudopolyrotaxanes (POSS/CB[7]) were synthesized using octaimidazolium-based polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) in aqueous solution. The binding interactions were monitored by (1)H NMR. Their regular octahedral morphologies were confirmed by TEM. The POSS/CB[7] was also characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and elemental analysis. The TGA results show that the thermal stabilities of POSS/CB[7] can be improved by the threading of CB[7].