Cyclodextrins Modified by Metal-Coordinating Groups for Aqueous Organometallic Catalysis: What Remains to be Done?

During these last twenty years, the syntheses of water-soluble cyclodextrins modified by phosphino groups or imidazolium groups (as precursors of N-heterocyclic carbenes) have been reported. These ligands based on cyclodextrins allowed performing transition metal catalyzed reactions in water. In this review, the molecular recognition properties, the ability of these ligands to immobilize transition metal complexes in water as well as their implications in aqueous organometallic catalysis are discussed.