Recent development of pillar[n]arene-based amphiphiles

Abstract

Pillar[n]arene-based amphiphiles, mainly including amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes and supra-amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes, have obtained considerable interests in recent years due to their fascinating chemical structures, various self-assembly behaviors, and widely applications. Thanks to the pillar-like frameworks and the rich host-guest recognitions of the cavities, these amphiphiles can be easily controlled to form dimensional and morphologic assemblies for multiple applications. Compared with traditional linear covalent amphiphiles, the introduction of host-guest recognitions facilitated the preparation and controllability of these supramolecular amphiphilic systems. Moreover, the host-guest recognitions endow the assemblies from pillar[n]arene-based amphiphiles with stimuli-responsive functions. In this mini-review, we summarized the chemical structures, self-assembly features, and the applications of pillar[n]arene-based amphiphiles. However, several research topics of pillar[n]arene-based amphiphiles can be further developed in the future, such as larger cavity amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes, co-assembly with 2D materials and utilization of the host-guest interactions.