Cucurbiturillit

Cucurbiturillit refers to a class of macrocyclic compounds known as cucurbiturands. These molecules are cage-like structures, often described as molecular pumpkins or barrels, composed of repeating glycoluril units linked by methylene bridges. The characteristic hollow cavity within the cucurbiturillit structure is a key feature, enabling it to encapsulate various guest molecules. This host-guest complexation ability makes cucurbiturillits attractive for applications in areas such as supramolecular chemistry, drug delivery, and catalysis.

The synthesis of cucurbiturillits typically involves the condensation of glycoluril with formaldehyde under acidic conditions. Different ring sizes can be achieved by varying the number of glycoluril units, leading to cucurbituril [n] where n represents the number of repeating units. For example, cucurbituril [5], cucurbituril [6], and cucurbituril [7] are common variants. The size and shape of the cavity can be further tuned by introducing functional groups onto the glycoluril units, allowing for selective binding of specific guest molecules.

The unique properties of cucurbiturillits, including their water solubility and ability to form stable complexes with a wide range of guests, have led to extensive research into their potential uses. They have been explored as sensors, as components in molecular machines, and as models for biological recognition processes. Their non-toxic nature in many cases also makes them promising candidates for biomedical applications.