Wide-angle X-ray scattering observations of alpha-cyclodextrin (CD)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) inclusion complexes (ICs) have shown for the first time that two crystalline columnar modifications (forms I and II) are produced in the process of their formation. This was made possible by precise azimuthal X-ray diffraction scanning of oriented IC samples. Form I is characterized by CDs threaded onto PEG chains and arranged along channels in the order head-to-head/tail-to-tail, while form II is formed by unbound CDs also arranged into columns in a head-to-tail and also possibly a head-to-head/tail-to-tail manner, probably as a result of template crystallization on the form I IC crystals. It was shown that similar structural peculiarities are inherent for channel structures based on ICs obtained with PEG with a wide range of molecular weights (MWs). The characteristic feature of ICs based on PEG, especially with MW > 8000, is the presence of unbound polymer in the composition of the complex. The amount of unbound PEG was shown to rise with increasing MW of PEG, resulting in greater imperfections in the IC crystalline structure. The polyblock structure of ICs based on alpha-CD and PEG was therefore proposed.

Various approaches to the synthesis of rotaxanes and Various approaches to the synthesis of rotaxanes and polyrotaxanes are considered. The principles employed in the polyrotaxanes are considered. The principles employed in the design of highly organised structures comprising rod-shaped design of highly organised structures comprising rod-shaped polymeric molecules, polymeric molecules, viz viz., macromolecular inclusion complexes, ., macromolecular inclusion complexes, are discussed. In addition to the conventional (step-by-step) are discussed. In addition to the conventional (step-by-step) methodology which consists of polymerisation of monomers in methodology which consists of polymerisation of monomers in the presence of macrocycles, molecular self-assembly is gaining an the presence of macrocycles, molecular self-assembly is gaining an ever increasing significance. The main emphasis is laid on the ever increasing significance. The main emphasis is laid on the preparation and characterisation of inclusion complexes which preparation and characterisation of inclusion complexes which are based on cyclodextrins and linear synthetic polymers. The are based on cyclodextrins and linear synthetic polymers. The bibliography includes 138 references bibliography includes 138 references. .

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