Functional Molecular Flasks: New Properties and Reactions within Discrete, Self‐Assembled Hosts

TLDR

Self‑assembled hosts, prepared via facile modular synthesis, act as molecular flasks that confine molecules and alter their reactivity and properties, attracting interest in their diverse sizes, shapes, and utilities. The review surveys synthesized molecular flasks and focuses on their use as functional containers to engender unusual reactions or unique chemical phenomena. The authors compile examples of self‑assembled hosts and discuss their design and application as containers for guest molecules. Self‑assembled cavities represent a new phase of chemistry inaccessible to conventional solid, liquid, and gas phases.

Abstract

Abstract Insider dealing : Self‐assembled hosts applied as “molecular flasks” can alter and control the reactivity and properties of molecules encapsulated within their well‐defined, confined spaces. A variety of functional hosts of differing sizes, shapes, and utility have been prepared by using the facile and modular concepts of self‐assembly. magnified image The application of self‐assembled hosts as “molecular flasks” has precipitated a surge of interest in the reactivity and properties of molecules within well‐defined confined spaces. The facile and modular synthesis of self‐assembled hosts has enabled a variety of hosts of differing sizes, shapes, and properties to be prepared. This Review briefly highlights the various molecular flasks synthesized before focusing on their use as functional molecular containers—specifically for the encapsulation of guest molecules to either engender unusual reactions or unique chemical phenomena. Such self‐assembled cavities now constitute a new phase of chemistry, which cannot be achieved in the conventional solid, liquid, and gas phases.