Temperature-dependent self-assembly of a purely organic cage in water

Chem Commun (Camb). 2018 Mar 28;54(25):3138-3141. doi: 10.1039/c8cc01085d. Epub 2018 Mar 12.

Abstract

Using a novel dynamic covalent approach relying on reversible hydrazone formation, a purely organic 3-dimensional prismatic cage was developed in water at elevated temperatures. By lowering the temperature, the hydrazone bond becomes kinetically inert. This self-assembled cage acts as an effective receptor for donor-acceptor pairs, whose interactions are weak in the absence of the cage.