Since the discovery of crown ethers by Pedersen in 1967, several thousands of crown ethers and analogous compounds have been synthesized. Their specific characteristics have been investigated and a variety of applications developed. These developments have led to new fields of chemistry called host-guest chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. This book presents the state-of-the-art of the chemistry of crown ethers and analogous compounds. The first chapter provides an orientation in the new fields of chemistry. Chapter 2 reviews advances in synthetic procedures for crown ethers and analogous compounds including azacrown ethers, thiacrown ethers, functionalized crown ethers, cryptands and others. The focus of chapter 3 is on the concept and synthetic strategies for the molecular design of new crown compounds. Chapters 4-7 are concerned with noteworthy topics in the applications of crown compounds. Chapter 4 deals with the application to ion-selective electrodes and liquid chromatography, both of which are the most important targets in the analytical application of crown compounds. One major application of crown ethers is the design and syntheses of artificial molecules which can catalyze a useful synthetic reaction in an enzyme-mimetic reaction manner, through novel non-covalent complexes. The strategies for enzymatic modelling with crown ethers are covered in chapter 5, while chapter 6 presents the principle of amine-selective colour complexation and its application. In chapter 7 switched-on crown ethers that can respond to environmental stimuli are reviewed. The final chapter is devoted to a wide-ranging discussion of developments in macrocyclic polyamine chemistry. Unlike crown ethers, macrocyclic polyamines, bearing nitrogen donor atoms which belong to a soft base, form complexes with ions of transition metals and heavy metals which are classified as soft acids. Therefore, macrocyclic polyamines are expected to have very versatile applications. Scientists in chemistry, biochemistry, physical organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry and industrial chemistry will find this book a helpful summary and a stimulating contribution to research in this specialized field of crown compounds.

Crown Ethers and Cryptands introduces the broad and basic principles of crown ether and cryptand chemistry at the advanced undergraduate, graduate and working professional level. The book provides a brief introduction, outlining the history of the field and goes on to cover syntheses, complexation of cations and molecules, complex structures, applications and recent developments. It aims to acquaint readers with the scope and principles of the field, providing a bibliography of reviews and books as reference to further reading and citations of the original literature.

Synthetic Multidentate Macrocyclic Compounds attempts to bring together selected chapters in which the authors discuss in depth investigations in important areas of macrocycle research. The chapters deal mainly with macrocyclic compounds (saturated polyethers and their derivatives), and macrobicyclic compounds (cryptates). The book contains six chapters and opens with a first-hand account of the initial synthesis of the cyclic polyethers. This is followed by separate chapters on the synthesis of cyclic polyethers, polyether amines, and polyether sulfides; the synthesis of multidentate compounds; and the structure of synthetic macrocyclic compounds and their cation complexes. Subsequent chapters deal with the rates of reactions and the mechanism by which synthetic macrocyclic ligands complex substrates in solution; and commercial applications of the synthetic macrocyclic ligands. This book is primarily aimed at researchers and students in organic, physical, analytical, and inorganic chemistry, and in chemical engineering. However, it will also be of interest to many in the areas of biology, biochemistry, and physiology. Extensive literature references are found in each chapter.

"This volume provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art account, exclusively devoted to the analytical chemistry of Macrocyclic (crown ethers), Macrobicyclic (cryptands) and the Supramolecular compounds (calixarene and calyx(n) resorcinarene and rotaxanes). These compounds having a great deal of similarity in their chemical characteristics have direct application in biosciences, analytical chemistry, solvent extraction, chromatography, spectroscopy and ion selective electrodes."--BOOK JACKET.