Abstract

In recent years, modulating amphiphilic assembly by macrocyclic receptors has been emerging as a fantastic topic. As we know, amphiphiles possess ability of selfassembly in aqueous solution due to their unique structures, resulting in important biological functions and various applications in our daily life and industry. Among methods to modulate their assembly behavior, using macrocyclic compounds as amphiphile adaptors owns advantages of convenience and efficiency. Preorganized structures and cavities of macrocyclic compounds enable them the ability of efficiently interacting with amphiphiles in different manners. These additional interactions alter amphiphilic assembly. In this review, we would like to provide a systemic summary of why and how macrocyclic compounds could behave as amphiphile adaptors. For this objective, we introduce related works from the viewpoint of intermolecular interaction. In general, addition of interactions which decrease electrostatic reputation of amphiphiles could promote amphiphilic assembly, and vice versa. Addition of interactions which prevent hydrophobic interaction could inhibit amphiphilc assembly. On the other hand, complexation of macromolecular compounds and amphiphiles could cause steric hindrance, which is unfavorable for assembly. We also take several classical amphiphiles as examples to clarify how different macrocyclic compounds adapt amphiphile assembly.

Keywords: Macrocyclic compounds, amphiphile, assembly, supramolecular chemistry, calixarene, cyclodextrin, cucurbituril.

Graphical Abstract