Cyclodextrins in Polymer Synthesis: Supramolecular Cyclodextrin Complexes of Pyrrole and 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene and Their Oxidative Polymerization

Cyclodextrins can act as hosts for heteroaromatic compounds to produce stable, odorless, complexes that can be oxidatively polymerized in water, it is reported here. The preparation and structural analysis of ratio 1:1 host–guest complexes for several types of cyclodextrin with pyrrole or 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (see Figure), and their reaction in water to give conjugated polymers are presented here (see also cover).