Amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes

Amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes, based on pillar-like macrocyclic frameworks, are a new type of fassionate amphiphilies designed and synthesised by Huang and co-workers in 2012 firstly. A large number of functional amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes can be developed by locating different hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups on the respective sides of the pillar-like frameworks to meet reality requires. In this Review we summarise recent studies in the syntheses, self-assembly and application of amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes. Due to the pillar-like cavities of pillar[n]arenes, they can complex with tremendous guest molecules through host-guest interaction. So it is easy to control the dimensional and morphologic of the assemblies formed from amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes dispersed in water by addition of guest molecules. Moreover, this controllable self-assembly process promote amphiphilic pillar[n]arenes more useful in many areas, such as drug and gene delivery, phase transfer catalysts, bacterial cell agglutination and so on.