Supramolecular Redox Transduction: Macrocyclic Receptors for Organic Guests

Abstract

The growth of supramolecular chemistry over the last decades has been materialized by the production of an extraordinary wide variety of macrocyclic receptors designed for binding ionic or neutral guests. In this chapter, the specific case of macrocyclic redox-responsive reporters for organic molecules, be they charged or neutral, is covered through illustrative examples of the recent literature. The recognition of small organic molecules, possibly chiral, and of macromolecules of biological interest is considered, with a special emphasis on selected applications. The chapter also addresses the recognition of redox-active organic guests by macrocyclic receptors through various examples. It presents several illustrative examples of redox-active self-assembled macrocycles. The design of the redox-receptor itself remains of critical importance, in particular in connection with the structural characteristics of the targeted guests.