The application of cyclodextrin (α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin and γ-cyclodextrin) derivatives in liquid-phase organic synthesis has been reviewed, especially as artificial enzymes, supramolecular photochirogenesises, dipolarophiles and microchannel reactors in oxidation, hydrolysis, reduction, photoisomerization, cycloaddition and so on. The cyclodextrin derivatives employed as artificial enzymes are used most widely in which the modifying groups play the role of the catalytic active site. Compared with cyclodextrin, the introduction of the modifying groups increases the functional groups in the parent cyclodextrin, expands the application of the cyclodextrin in liquid-phase organic synthesis and enhances the catalytic activity and selectivity.

Key words: cyclodextrin derivative, organic synthesis, liquid-phase reaction