Recent progresses in pillar[n]arene-based photocatalysis

By fully considering its hydrophobic/electron-rich cavity, planar chirality, as well as rigid chemical structures, pillar[n]arene has the capacity of contributing its molecular recognition, self-assembly, as well as thus obtained advanced hierarchical materials in photocatalysis. In this review, we discussed and summarized the recent progress in pillar[n]arene-based photocatalysis. Interestingly, it was found that pillar[n]arene played diverse roles in photocatalysis, for example, providing host-guest interactions as phase transfer catalyst in photoreduction/dehalogenation/oxidation for improving the water-solubility of substrates and functional molecules, contributing hydrophobic/electron-rich cavity, inducing planar chirality as homogenous catalyst in photocyclodimerization/redox/dehalogenation for catalyzing selective substrates, and serving as building blocks or reactive sites in the fabrication of hierarchical (hybrid) heterogenous catalyst in selective reactions.

Automated summary

By fully considering its hydrophobic/electron-rich cavity, planar chirality, as well as rigid chemical structures, pillar[n]arene has the capacity to contribute to molecular recognition, self-assembly, and the formation of advanced hierarchical materials in photocatalysis. This review discusses and summarizes the recent progress in pillar[n]arene-based photocatalysis, highlighting its diverse roles as a phase transfer catalyst, a homogeneous catalyst, and a building block/reactive site in enhancing the water-solubility of substrates, catalyzing selective reactions, and fabricating hierarchical (hybrid) heterogeneous catalysts.