Multiply–linked cyclodextrin–aromatic hybrids: Caps, hinges and clips

The judicious combination of shaping and recognition elements in cage-type architectures represents a powerful strategy to access molecular devices with tailored receptor properties and controlled abilities to form supramolecular assemblies. Aromatic modules are particularly attractive for these endeavors: they can play the role of rigid walls to build permanent cavities, folding screens between preexisting compartments and/or act as functional components promoting noncovalent self-interactions as well as associations with third species, allowing several levels of organization to be implemented. The field of cyclodextrins has enormously benefitted from the amalgamation with aromatic building blocks to give birth to hybrids with a much broader spectrum of properties and applications. The progress in precision chemistry has further enabled the efficient preparation of multiply-linked cap, hinge or clip cyclodextrin-aromatic chimeras with unprecedented level of control, which has translated into new developments in fields like supramolecular catalysis, self-assembly or gene delivery. This review article focuses specifically in these type of compounds, highlighting the intimate relationship between structure, supramolecular properties and performance in the target application.