Cage-based sensors for circular dichroism analysis

Abstract

Quantitative chiral sensing relying on circular dichroism (CD) is very important for determining the enantiomeric excess or concentration of small molecules without strong chromophores, because they form chiral complexes with sensors, yielding strong CD signals. Three-dimensional cages are promising platforms for chiral CD due to their stereochemical flexibility and their variety of cavity and external binding sites that can be used as chiral CD sensors. In this minireview, we discuss recent advances, future challenges, and opportunities in the quantitative sensing of small molecules in host–guest and peripheral complexes with cage sensors by chiral CD. We aim to provide inspiration for the rational design of cage sensors for quantitative chiral sensing of small molecules based on CD.