Cross‐Linking Building Blocks Using a “Boronate Bridge” to Build Functional Hybrid Materials

Abstract Boronic acids are not only a substrate for metal‐catalyzed cross‐coupling but also a molecular recognition tool. Especially, boronic acid‐diol or boronate‐diol interactions have been used to construct molecular‐scale self‐assemblies. This focus review summarizes recent researches using boronic acids as a bridge between similar or dissimilar (macro)molecules to build functional hybrid materials. Functional properties of boronic acid moieties such as molecular selectivity and stimuli‐responsiveness impart the materials with characteristic functions suitable for applications such as release systems, dynamic materials, and bioactive surfaces and scaffolds.