Phosphorus-containing chiral macrocycles

Macrocyclic compounds are ubiquitous as synthetic receptors in supramolecular chemistry. This paper provides an overview of studies in the synthesis and functional properties of phosphorus-containing chiral cyclodextrins, calixarenes and cyclophanes having three-dimensional molecular cavities, within the context of molecular recognition and catalysis. The review demonstrates that chiral phosphorus-containing macrocycles are fundamentally and technologically interesting, because they combine chirality and supramolecular chemistry. Incorporation of phosphorus-containing receptor groups on the macrocyclic cavity enable supramolecular interactions to be defined a priori, having broad ramifications for chemistry, physics, biology and material science.