Self-assembled supramolecular cages for guest binding and catalysis

该项目旨在构建一类含有金属的超分子笼形分子，这些分子具有特殊的结合口袋，具有模仿酶的独特化学性质。许多现有的笼形分子包含定义明确的三维空腔，这让人想起酶的活性部位。然而，与自然体系不同的是，它们不包含具有自由配位的活性金属，这限制了它们的催化能力。该项目旨在快速、轻松地准备一大类坚固的有机笼子，并随后将含有游离活性中心的金属结合到笼子的空腔中。预计这将提供强大和选择性的客体结合，以及高效和选择性的催化。

This project aims to construct a family of supramolecular metal-containing cage-shaped molecules that possess specialised binding pockets with unique chemical properties that mimic enzymes. Many existing cage molecules contain well-defined three dimensional cavities reminiscent of enzymes' active sites. However, unlike natural systems they do not contain "active" metals with free coordination sites, and this limits their catalytic ability. This project aims to prepare a large family of robust organic cages quickly and easily, and subsequently incorporate metals containing free active sites that point into the cage cavity. It is expected that this will deliver strong and selective guest binding, and efficient and selective catalysis.