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Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Controlling the Size, Shape and Stability of Supramolecular Polymers in Water
Published on: August 2, 2012
The aqueous supramolecular chemistry of crown ethers
Zhenhui Qi1, Yao Qin1, Jijun Wang1
1Sino-German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational Technology, Synergetic Innovation Center of Biological Optoelectronics and Healthcare Engineering (BOHE), Shaanxi Provincial Synergistic Innovation Center for Flexible Electronics & Health Sciences (FEHS), School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Abstract:
This mini-review summarizes the seminal exploration of aqueous supramolecular chemistry of crown ether macrocycles. In history, most research of crown ethers were focusing on their supramolecular chemistry in organic phase or in gas phase. In sharp contrast, the recent research evidently reveal that crown ethers are very suitable for studying abroad range of the properties and applications of water interactions, from: high water-solubility, control of Hofmeister series, "structural water", and supramolecular adhesives. Key studies revealing more details about the properties of water and aqueous solutions are highlighted.
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Related Concept Videos
Crown Ethers
Structure and Nomenclature of Ethers
Ethers are organic compounds with an ether functional group which is characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two — identical or different — alkyl, aryl, or vinyl groups. The C–O–C linkage in dimethyl ether — the simplest ether — has an approximately tetrahedral bond angle of 110.3 degrees. The oxygen atom is sp3- hybridized, with the C–O distance being about 140 pm.
Classification of Ethers
Based on their attached substituent...
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Intermolecular Forces
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.