Ishfaq Ahmad Rather

By Ishfaq Ahmad Rather and Rashid Ali

Catalysts by virtue of lowering the activation barrier helps in the completion of a chemical reaction in a lesser amount of time without being themselves consumed. Utilizing the diverse non-covalent interactions in the design and construction of catalysts, recently anion-π interactions were also introduced, giving rise to an emerging field of anion-π catalysis. In the newly constructed anion-π catalysts, significant lowering of activation energy occurs by virtue of anion-π interactions. Till now, several important reactions generating chiral centers have been carried out on the π-acidic surfaces of anion-π catalysts, thereby revealing the significance of anion-π catalysis in the domain of asymmetric synthesis. The motive of this chapter is to highlight the role of anion-π catalysis in asymmetric synthesis and we surely believe that it will offer new opportunities in supramolecular chemistry.

Part of the book: Current Topics in Chirality

By Ishfaq Ahmad Rather, Ahmad Hasan and Rashid Ali

Owing to the selective recognition ability, exceptional biocompatibility, water solubility, non-toxicity, economically inexpensive, commercial availability, and easy functionalization, cyclodextrins (CDs) act as the main building blocks for the creation of beautifully simple yet much effective supramolecular architectures of fundamental interest. Over the past few decades, CDs have engrossed a noteworthy interest in the scientific community because of their usage in the development of chemical sensors via molecular recognition phenomenon. Bearing the delightful sensing capability of CDs in mind, herewith, we envisioned to disclose the recent developments in the sensing of diverse biologically significant small molecules by CDs through colorimetric, fluorescence, electrochemical, and potentiometric response. Sensing events and corresponding distinguishing optical features in cyclodextrin-based monomers, dimers, clusters, and nano-assemblies have been elaborated in detail. The authors are of the opinion that this chapter will offer new dimensions to supramolecular sensors in general and CDs-based sensors in particular.

Part of the book: Cyclodextrins