Solvent-dependent host-guest chemistry, favoring of otherwise disfavored conformations of large guests, and catalytic degradation of the insecticide dichlorvos has been achieved with self-assembled coordination cages. A water-soluble tetrahedral Fe4L6 capsule was shown to self-assemble enantioselectively from an enantiopure diamine and 2-formylpyridine in the presence of an iron(II) salt. These versatile water-soluble capsules are capable of binding a wide range of organic guests in their large hydrophobic cavities. Among these guests is the neurotoxic insecticide dichlorvos, for which the coordination capsule serves as a competent supramolecular catalyst for its hydrolysis. A self-assembled face-capped tetrahedral Fe4L4 coordination cage: Depending on the counter ion, this face-capped tetrahedral capsule is either soluble in water or in organic solvents and shows a solvent-dependent preference for encapsulation of certain classes of guest molecules. Due to the flexible subcomponents, this Fe4L4 cage is capable of adapting its shape to the encapsulated guest, thereby ensuring strong binding of both small and large guests. Upon encapsulation, large symmetric guest molecules show significantly lower symmetry and adopt conformations which are not thermodynamically favored in their free state. In addition, restricted motion about single bonds leads to diastereotopic protons on CH2 groups of encapsulated guests.

Coordination cages: Host guest chemistry and applications in supramolecular catalysis

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

[Author Benefits](https://scimeetings.acs.org/?utm_source=pubs_content_marketing&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=0320_MCF_NPI_Launch_Spring_Homepage&ref=pubs_content_marketing)

[How to use SciMeetings](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMeetings-ACSSpring2020-HowToGuide_M3020-Final.pdf)

[Frequently Asked Questions](https://storage.googleapis.com/dl.morressier.com/acs/SciMtng_ACSNMSp2020_FAQ_M3120_Final.pdf)

ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.