The uses of supramolecular chemistry in synthetic methodology development: examples of anion and neutral molecular recognition

The principles of supramolecular chemistry have successfully permeated through a broad range of organic chemistry subdisciplines. One subdiscipline that is not routinely associated with supramolecular chemistry is that of organic synthetic methodology. Though sometimes indiscernible, non-bonded and bonding supramolecular interactions play a large role in chemical reactions and catalysis. Many synthetic methods hinge on the creation of anionic charge, albeit just partial, at some step during this process, and hence are prime targets for molecular recognition interactions. Examples are artificial enzymes, biomimetic catalysis, organocatalysis, and many of the catalysts that are derived from a combinatorial screen. Further, supramolecular chemistry is playing an increasingly large role in high-throughput analytical techniques. This tutorial review ties together supramolecular approaches to methodology creation, combinatorial screening, and analytical protocols. The goal is to show, and further predict, that supramolecular chemistry will continually increase its impact in organic synthetic methodology development.