Calixarene receptors of environmentally hazardous and biorelevant molecules and ions

In the paper, a report on the rational design of the calixarene receptors bearing ligating, H-donor, H-acceptor fragments at the wide and/or narrow rim of the macrocycle is presented. The calixarenes form supramolecular complexes with various cations, anions, organic molecules, and biomolecules in solution, in the crystalline state and even in the gas phase. The calixarenes or their complexes can be used as materials for radionuclide extraction, construction of chemosensors, and drug design.