Frontiers in Chemistry (Jan 2023)

The aqueous supramolecular chemistry of crown ethers

  • Zhenhui Qi,
  • Yao Qin,
  • Jijun Wang,
  • Maojin Zhao,
  • Zhuo Yu,
  • Qiangqiang Xu,
  • Hongqi Nie,
  • Qilong Yan,
  • Yan Ge

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2023.1119240
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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This mini-review summarizes the seminal exploration of aqueous supramolecular chemistry of crown ether macrocycles. In history, most research of crown ethers were focusing on their supramolecular chemistry in organic phase or in gas phase. In sharp contrast, the recent research evidently reveal that crown ethers are very suitable for studying abroad range of the properties and applications of water interactions, from: high water-solubility, control of Hofmeister series, “structural water”, and supramolecular adhesives. Key studies revealing more details about the properties of water and aqueous solutions are highlighted.

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