The book is designed to highlight the utility of supramolecular systems in diverse areas such as sensing of ionic and molecular analytes, aggregation, artificial molecular machines, biology, and medicine. The synthetic chemistry of a diverse set of supramolecules encompassing various supramolecular interactions involved in driving macrocyclic architectures has been discussed. Attempts have been made to cover unique features of macrocycles viz. control over shape, size, and valency along with supramolecular interactions, which direct complex supramolecular systems. The book also provides a discussion on the similarity between macrocyclic host-guest systems and biomolecules, which lay the foundation of building modern artificial molecular motors and switches like protein machines for application in diverse areas. The authors hope that the book would appeal to a wider audience of students and researchers in academics and/or industries.
Satish Kumar is an Indian, currently living in England, who has been a Jain monk and a nuclear disarmament advocate, and is the current editor of the magazine Resurgence, founder and Director of Programmes of the Schumacher College international centre for ecological studies and of The Small School. His most notable accomplishment is a "peace walk" with a companion to the capitals of four of the nuclear-armed countries-- Washington, London, Paris and Moscow-- a trip of over 8,000 miles. He insists that reverence for nature should be at the heart of every political and social debate. Defending criticism that his goals are unrealistic, he has said, "Look at what realists have done for us. They have led us to war and climate change, poverty on an unimaginable scale, and wholesale ecological destruction. Half of humanity goes to bed hungry because of all the realistic leaders in the world. I tell people who call me 'unrealistic' to show me what their realism has done. Realism is an outdated, overplayed and wholly exaggerated concept."