Important calixarene derivatives – their synthesis and applications

Since their discovery as by-products in the phenol-formaldehyde condensation to prepare bakelites, the calixarenes have gained much attention for their application as both surfactants and chemoreceptors.The McKervey group has been a leader in the development and synthesis of new and novel calixarenes for use as ion-complexing agents as well as for use in many other applications.Many calixarene derivatives prepared by the McKervey group are being used in both environmental and biomedical monitoring.This review covers both the synthesis and sensor applications of the various calixarenes developed by the McKervey group over the past two decades, with emphasis on metal cation detection.