Preparation and application of BODIPY-containing pillararenes based supramolecular systems

The recent progresses in the synthesis and application of BODIPY-containing pillararenes were discussed in this review. The synthesis of BODIPY-containing pillararenes could be carried out by using covalent bonds via classic organic syntheses, leading to BODIPY mono-/perfunctionalize pillararenes, and BODIPY-bridged pillararenes oligomers. Additionally, BODIPY-containing pillararenes could be achieved by inclusion complexes between recognition sites-bearing BODIPY derivative as the guest and pillararenes as the host via noncovalent interactions. Furthermore, due to the size difference between BODIPY and the pillararenes cavity, MIM was also prepared with BODIPY as the stopper and pillararenes as the wheel moiety. Those BODIPY-containing pillararenes could further carry out the self-assembly procedure by taking advantages of its unique structures including regular pillar-like structures of pillararenes, hydrophobic and electron-rich pillararenes cavities, easily modification sites along macrocyclic rim of pillararenes, π-π stacking interactions by BODIPY, as well as the amphiphilic host-guest inclusions serving as “self-assembled amphiphiles”. Finally, BODIPY-containing pillararenes and its self-assembly exhibited interestingly induced/enhanced novel properties for wide applications including FRET-based artificial light harvesting system, fluorescent chemosensor, as well as bioimaging, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy in cancer therapy.