This review focuses in papers published since 2000 on the topic of the properties of solutes in water. More specifically, it evaluates the state-of-the-art of our understanding of the complex relationship between the shape of a hydrophobe and the Hydrophobic effect. To highlight this a selection of references covering both empirical and molecular dynamics studies of small (molecular-scale) solutes are presented. These include empirical studies of small molecules, synthetic hosts, crystalline monolayers, and proteins, as well as in silico investigations of entities including idealized hard and soft spheres, small solutes, hydrophobic plates, artificial concavity, molecular hosts, carbon nanotubes and spheres, and proteins. KeywordsWater; non-covalent interactions; supramolecular chemistry; Hydrophobic Effect; hydration ExordiumWater is found in many parts of the universe, but planet Earth truly is a water-world. All four spheres consist to some extent of water: the hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere all contain (respectively decreasing) proportions of water. This review pertains to the hydrosphere and biosphere. More specifically, this review concerns the complex relationship between hydrophobic solutes and the solvent of life.(1) For understanding how solute shape and functionality control solvation, and how this solvation folds into measurable spectroscopic and thermodynamic changes, is key to understanding our world.The ubiquity of water is reflected in a massive literature and consequently boundaries must be set for any review. First, although there is a continuum between a hydrophobe and a hard ion, and cases where the Hydrophobic effect (HE) and the Hofmeister effect(2-4) meet,(5; 6) where possible the latter is avoided. Second, this review focuses on the molecular-scale HE(7) and avoids the micro-scale.(8) Third, temperature and pressure can have a considerable effect on the HE,(9) but with only a few exceptions this review concerns ambient conditions. Fourth, bio-membranes are not discussed.(10) Finally, the bulk of this review concerns work performed since 2000.The layout of this review follows the broad types of curvature as defined by mathematics: positive curvature (convex), zero curvature (flat surface) and negative curvature (concave).

An efficient, four-step synthesis of a range of water-soluble, deep-cavity cavitands is presented. Key to this approach are octahalide derivatives (4, X = Cl or Br) that allow a range of water-solubilizing groups to be added to the outer surface of the core host structure. In many cases, the conversion of the starting dodecol (1) resorcinarene to the different cavitands avoids any chromatographic procedures.

A reinforced thermal barrier coat of a Na–tannic acid complex controls the high flammability of cotton.