Cucurbit[n]uril:: A new molecule in host-guest chemistry

The development of cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]), a new molecule in Host-Guest chemistry is discussed. CB[n] is made from the condensation of glycoluril and formaldehyde in concentrated acid solutions. It was first made as the six-subunit macrocycle CB[6] but its structure was determined later. The cucurbituril family has been expanded to include cucurbiturils of different sizes, substituted cucurbiturils, and even inverted cucurbiturils. cucurbiturils have distinct shapes and are characterized by their hydrophobic cavity and hydrophilic portals. Each CB[n] is 9.1 × 10 -10 along with internal volumes from 82 to more than 500 × 10 -7, and widths between 4.4 and 12.6 × 10 -10. Applications, involve entrapment of gases, pollutants, and other molecules. It is also used to encapsulate a variety of platinum-based anti-cancer agents.