| Abstract
| - A large fraction of the field of supramolecular chemistry has focused in previous decades upon the studyand use of synthetic receptors as a means of mimicking natural receptors. Recently, the demand forsynthetic receptors is rapidly increasing within the analytical sciences. These classes of receptors arefinding uses in simple indicator chemistry, cellular imaging, and enantiomeric excess analysis, whilealso being involved in various truly practical assays of bodily fluids. Moreover, one of the most promisingareas for the use of synthetic receptors is in the arena of differential sensing. Although many syntheticreceptors have been shown to yield exquisite selectivities, in general, this class of receptor suffers fromcross-reactivities. Yet, cross-reactivity is an attribute that is crucial to the success of differential sensingschemes. Therefore, both selective and nonselective synthetic receptors are finding uses in analyticalapplications. Hence, a field of chemistry that herein is entitled “Supramolecular Analytical Chemistry”is emerging, and is predicted to undergo increasingly rapid growth in the near future.
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