Supramolecular Chemistry & Catalysis and Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
ChemistryOpen. 2022 Jun;11(6):e202200026. doi: 10.1002/open.202200026.
We review here the use of container molecules known as cavitands for performing organic reactions in water. Central to these endeavors are binding forces found in water, and among the strongest of these is the hydrophobic effect. We describe how the hydrophobic effect can be used to drive organic molecule guests into the confined space of cavitand hosts. Other forces participating in guest binding include cation-π interactions, chalcogen bonding and even hydrogen bonding to water involved in the host structure. The reactions of guests take advantage of their contortions in the limited space of the cavitands which enhance macrocyclic and site-selective processes. The cavitands are applied to the removal of organic pollutants from water and to the separation of isomeric guests. Progress is described on maneuvering the containers from stoichiometric participation to roles as catalysts.
我们在这里回顾了使用被称为冠醚的容器分子在水中进行有机反应的情况。这些努力的核心是在水中发现的结合力，其中最强的是疏水效应。我们描述了疏水效应用于将有机分子客体驱入冠醚主体的受限空间的方式。参与客体结合的其他力包括阳离子-π 相互作用、硫属键甚至与主体结构中涉及的水分子的氢键。客体的反应利用了它们在冠醚有限空间中的扭曲，从而增强了大环和位点选择性过程。冠醚被应用于从水中去除有机污染物和分离异构体客体。描述了将容器从计量参与转变为催化剂角色的进展情况。
