Cucurbit[8]uril-Based Supramolecular Polymers

Supramolecular polymers, whose building blocks are noncovalently connected, have attracted much attention over the last few decades. The noncovalent nature of these polymeric systems endows them with great potential for applications in the preparation of dynamic materials. Cucurbituril (CB)-based host-guest systems, which have strong binding affinity and good selectivity, have received extensive recent attention. Among the CB family, CB[8] is unique for its ability to bind two guests in its cavity and form strong ternary complexes. Such CB[8]-based host-guest systems have been widely used in the construction of supramolecular architechtures. In this Focus Review, following a brief description of the host-guest interactions in CB[8]-based systems, we summarize the current state of play in the fabrication of CB[8]-based supramolecular polymers, which mainly include small-molecule-based supramolecular polymers and polymer-based supramolecular polymers, as a good example of the marriage between the supramolecular chemistry of cucurbiturils and polymer science.