Research in green chemistry has recently focussed on designing reactions in water as a safe solvent, calling for catalysts that operate in aqueous solutions. In particular, supramolecular metal nanoparticles have been synthesized by associating macrocyclic compounds with transition metal nanoparticles, to produce water-dispersible catalytic systems of high performance and molecular recognition ability. Here we review methods for stabilizing catalytically active metal nanoparticles in cyclodextrin-based systems. Indeed, cyclodextrins form inclusion complexes with molecules of appropriate size and shape, and the presence of hydroxyl groups enables coordination with metal ions. Representative examples show increasing stability, recyclability and catalytic activity. We present 1) the synthesis, characterization and catalytic behaviors with focus on the development of metal nanoparticles in solvent-dispersed form or immobilized onto supports in the presence of cyclodextrins or their derivatives; 2) the multi-functional role of cyclodextrins capable of acting as reducing agents, stabilizing/dispersing agents or mass transfer promoters; and 3) the design of more sophisticated catalytic systems, in which the cyclodextrin is a supramolecular host with dynamic equilibrium.

绿色化学的研究最近集中在设计作为安全溶剂的水中的反应，需要在水溶液中运行的催化剂。特别是，通过将大环化合物与过渡金属纳米粒子结合，合成了超分子金属纳米粒子，以制备具有高性能和分子识别能力的水分散性催化体系。在这里，我们回顾了在基于环糊精的系统中稳定催化活性金属纳米粒子的方法。事实上，环糊精与适当大小和形状的分子形成包合物，并且羟基的存在能够与金属离子配位。代表性实例显示稳定性、可回收性和催化活性增加。我们提出 1) 综合，表征和催化行为，重点是在环糊精或其衍生物存在下开发溶剂分散形式或固定在载体上的金属纳米颗粒；2) 环糊精的多功能作用，可作为还原剂、稳定/分散剂或传质促进剂；3) 设计更复杂的催化系统，其中环糊精是具有动态平衡的超分子主体。