Molecular Recognition with Linear Molecules as Receptors

This review highlights the advances in molecular recognition based on the linear molecular receptors in the past decade. Three kinds of linear receptors that bind discrete neutral, cationic and anionic organic molecules, metal ions, and halide anions are described. The first are foldamer receptors that are induced by intramolecular non-covalent forces to spontaneously fold into compact conformations. The second are linear molecules that themselves are structurally flexible but turn into folded conformations upon binding. The third are functionalized foldamers that consist of hydrogen bonding-driven preorganized arylamide-based linkers and attached binding sites fullerene units.