The metal-ion and host-guest chemistry of macrocyclic ligands has developed rapidly over recent years and now impinges on wide areas of both chemistry and biochemistry. It is the aim of this work to present, in a single volume, an overview of the main developments in the area. An attempt has been made to provide a text for those seeking an introduction to the field as well as one which will be of use to practising ‘macrocyclists’. In particular, it is hoped that the material covered will provide an appropriate basis for a senior undergraduate/graduate course on macrocyclic chemistry. It has been used in this way by the author at James Cook University.

The text should also serve to put in a chemical perspective the several types of macrocyclic systems found in nature – as such, it should be of benefit to those whose principal interests are the biochemical aspects of such cyclic systems.

Throughout the text, an effort has been made to include sufficient references to provide a balanced introduction to the relevant literature. This has not always been straightforward since frequently a number of excellent papers were available to illustrate a particular point. When this occurred the decision of what to include was somewhat arbitrary. I apologize to the many authors whose work it has not been possible to cite.

It is a particular pleasure to acknowledge my many friends and colleagues, on five continents, who have contributed in one way or another to this work.