Themed collection In celebration of Julius Rebek’s 75th Birthday

A special issue dedicated to Professor Julius Rebek, Jr.

GEST NMR provides dynamic information on host–guest systems. It allows signal amplification of low concentrated complexes, detection of intermolecular interactions and quantification of guest exchange rates.

The key learnings of the utilization of sulfoximines, sulfondiimines and sulfonimidamides in drug discovery at Bayer AG are shared.

A selection of supramolecular ligands designed to extract f-elements.

The use of diffusion NMR in studying calixarenes and other arene-based supramolecular systems is described, emphasizing the pivotal role played by the calixarene community in transforming the methods into a routine tool used in supramolecular chemistry.

This review reports a comprehensive compilation of gold-catalyzed heterocyclic synthesis by using α-imino gold carbene complexes as the proposed intermediates.

Galectins have diverse functions and are involved in many biological processes because of their complex intra- and extracellular activities.

The binding of diverse heterocyclic probe ligands to a bacterial hydrolase reveals important features of amide–heteroarene π-stacking interactions.

A diastereoselective borylcyclopropanation of α-MIDA-boryl styrenes is developed using 4CzIPN as a catalyst under visible-light irradiation. The scope of this photocatalytic method is explored, and the utility of the resulting doubly borylated cyclopropanes is demonstrated by the selective transformations of one of the two boryl groups.

We report the quantification of the hydrophobic effect using a model system based on water-soluble super aryl-extended calix[4]pyrrole receptors and a series of pyridyl N-oxide derivatives, bearing a non-polar para-substituent, as guests.

A 3.6 nm-pore SOF is constructed, which adsorbs both photosensitizers and polyoxometallates for visible light-induced proton reduction to produce H₂.

N-Cbz- and N-Boc-protected exo-spiro[oxirane-3,2′-tropanes] were selectively synthesized via either epoxidation or hydroxybromination/dehydrobromination of the corresponding alkenes.

By introducing a 9,10-distyrylanthrance (DSA) moiety as the core, we demonstrated the synthesis of a new family of rotaxane-branched dendrimers G1–G3 through the controllable divergent approach.

A biomimetic receptor allows selective recognition of organophosphates in water thanks to multipoint recognition associating coordination, electrostatics and cavity hosting.

Functionalised acyclic cucurbiturils can be prepared in a straightforward fashion and provide access to a wide variety of substituted derivatives.

Controlling and tuning the molecular recognition properties is a crucial task in host–guest chemistry.

Guest dynamics inside pyrogallol[4]arene hexamers in the solid state are sensitive to structure external to the host.

Light is used to control a ligand that acts as an inhibitor for a metal-based catalyst.

Substituent–π interactions associated with aromatic stacking interactions were experimentally measured using a small N-phenylimide molecular balance model system.

Rationally designed phosphaquinolinone derivatives containing electron-donating and/or -withdrawing groups are reported, with dimerization constants up to 525 M⁻¹.

A ditopic water-soluble resorcinarene is shown to bind salts and undergo self-inclusion to assembly into a supramolecular polymer.

A calixarene-based alkynyl-bridged Au(I) isocyanide complex with a triazolyl group as a receptor site has been synthesized and demonstrated to be a selective chemosensor for Zn²⁺ based on Au(I)⋯Au(I) interactions.

A series of bis-hemithioindigo photoswitches with different molecular setups are presented allowing precise manipulation of molecular shapes with visible light.

[2.2]Paracyclophane-based bis(pyridine) ligands form dinuclear complexes upon coordination to palladium(II) ions, however, with distinct differences concerning their chiral self-sorting ability.

Supramolecular interactions based on amide groups direct the preferential formation of tritopic instead of monotopic or ditopic imidazolium compounds.

Mechanical activation of a 1,2-diazetidinone mechanophore via ultrasonic sonication leads to the formation of isocyanate and imine products.

A convex-bound sumanenyl hafnocene complex was selectively synthesized, and the catalytic activity of sumanenyl metallocenes was demonstrated in the carboalumination reaction.

A bridging (μ₂) neutral zwitterionic amidoxime binding mode previously unobserved between amidoximes and uranyl is reported and compared to other uranyl amidoxime complexes.

Janus Au–mesoporous silica nanoparticles functionalized with L-glutamate oxidase and self-immolative arylboronate as a L-glutamate-responsive delivery system.

The synthesis of pillar[5]arenes from p-dialkoxybenzene and formaldehyde in the presence of iron(III) chloride and tetramethylammonium chloride under mild reaction conditions was investigated in detail.

Chirality transfer upon preferential binding of homochiral guests to one stereoisomer of a conformationally equilibrated atropisomeric cyclophane is reported.

Thermal dimerization of 4-aryl-1,3-diacetylenes resulting in diradical intermediates were investigated by experimental and quantum chemical studies.

A new water-soluble cavitand captured hydrophobic or amphiphilic molecules in an aqueous solution owing to its deep aromatic pocket.

Oxatub[4]arene was revealed via rotaxane synthesis to show a large amplitude conformational response to temperature change.

A soluble [20]phenacene dodeca-ester has been synthesized by Perkin strategy from naphthalene-based building blocks using complementary protecting techniques.

We describe the synthesis of [2]rotaxanes consisting of a macrocyclic tetraamide and mono- and bis-ammonium ions and their conformational isomerism.

A novel design of highly preorganized bicyclic monomers, based on quadruple hydrogen bonding motifs, is proposed to access noncovalent cavitands with large internal volumes and interesting shapes.

A supramolecular polymer that allows for intrapolymer proton-coupled photoinduced electron transfer was constructed by means of amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges.

Red-light-responsive CB[8]-mediated host–guest system featured with high photoisomerization ratio was fabricated which could be used as molecular container with red-light-activated release ability.

Site-specifically modified aromatic foldamers can encapsulate dihydrogen phosphate ions as a cyclic dimer via the formation of twelve hydrogen bonds.

Pyridine terminated donor–acceptor π-conjugated oligomers have been prepared and their absorption and emission properties have been evaluated with respect to protonation and metalation.