The reversible boronic acid–diol interaction empowers boronic acid receptors' saccharide binding capacities, rendering them a class of lectin mimetic, termed “boronlectins”. Boronic acids follow lectin functions not just in being able to bind saccharides, but in multivalent saccharide binding that enhances both affinity and selectivity. For almost a decade, efforts have been made to achieve and improve selectivity for given saccharide targets, most notably glucose, by using properly positioned boronic acids, offering multivalent interactions. Incorporation of several boronic acid groups into a covalent framework or non-covalent assembly of boronic acid are two general methods used to create such smart sensors, of which the latter resembles lectin oligomerisation that affords multivalent saccharide-binding architectures. In this review, we discuss supramolecular selective sensing of saccharides by using simple boronic acids in their aggregate forms, after a brief survey of the general aspects of boronic acid-based saccharide sensing.

SummaryThis review covers advances in anion complexation in 2013, 2014, and 2015. The review focuses on the applications of anion receptor chemistry, including sensing, self-assembly, extraction, transport, catalysis, and fundamental advances in the area

Optical sensors that respond to enantiomeric excess of chiral analytes are highly demanded in chirality related research fields and demonstrate their potential in many applications, for example, screening of asymmetric reaction products. Most sensors developed so far are small molecules. This Tutorial Review covers recent advances in chirality sensing systems that are different from the traditional small molecule-based sensors, by using macrocycles, synthetic oligomers/polymers, supramolecular polymers and nanoparticles as the sensors, in which supramolecular interactions operate.

SummarySynthetic transmembrane anion transporters (anionophores) have potential as tools for biomedical research and as therapeutic agents for diseases associated with anion-channel dysfunction. However, the possibility of H+ or OH− transport by anionophores has received little attention, and an anionophore selective for Cl− over H+/OH− is currently unavailable. Here, we show that depending on anionophore acidity, many anionophores facilitate electrogenic H+ or OH− transport, potentially leading to toxicity. Nevertheless, using several liposome-membrane-based assays, we identified two newly developed small molecules that promote electrogenic Cl− transport without effectively dissipating the transmembrane pH gradient, essentially mimicking the electrogenic cationophore valinomycin. The Cl− > H+/OH− selectivity of anionophores showed a consistent positive correlation with the degree of Cl− encapsulation and a negative correlation with the acidity of hydrogen-bond donors. Our study demonstrates that a valinomycin equivalent for Cl−-selective transport is achievable