Origins of High-Activity Cage-Catalyzed Michael Addition.

Cage catalysis continues to create significant interest, yet catalyst function remains poorly understood. Herein, we report mechanistic insights into coordination-cage-catalyzed Michael addition using kinetic and computational methods. The study has been enabled by the detection of identifiable catalyst intermediates, which allow the evolution of different cage species to be monitored and modeled alongside reactants and products. The investigations show that the overall acceleration results from two distinct effects. First, the cage reaction shows a thousand-fold increase in the rate constant for the turnover-limiting C-C bond-forming step compared to a reference state. Computational modeling and experimental analysis of activation parameters indicate that this stems from a significant reduction in entropy, suggesting substrate coencapsulation. Second, the cage markedly acidifies the bound pronucleophile, shifting this equilibrium by up to 6 orders of magnitude. The combination of these two factors results in accelerations up to 109 relative to bulk-phase reference reactions. We also show that the catalyst can fundamentally alter the reaction mechanism, leading to intermediates and products that are not observable outside of the cage. Collectively, the results show that cage catalysis can proceed with very high activity and unique selectivity by harnessing a series of individually weak noncovalent interactions.

Photoswitchable Catalysis by a Self-Assembled Molecular Cage.

A heteroleptic [Pd2L2L'2]4+ coordination cage containing a photoswitchable azobenzene-derived ligand catalyzes the Michael addition reaction between methyl vinyl ketone and benzoyl nitromethane within its cavity. The corresponding homoleptic cages are catalytically inactive. The heteroleptic cage can be reversibly disassembled and reassembled using 530 and 405 nm light, respectively, allowing catalysis within the cage to be switched OFF and ON at will.

Utilizing Raman Spectroscopy as a Tool for Solid- and Solution-Phase Analysis of Metalloorganic Cage Host-Guest Complexes.

The host-guest chemistry of coordination cages continues to promote significant interest, not least because confinement effects can be exploited for a range of applications, such as drug delivery, sensing, and catalysis. Often a fundamental analysis of noncovalent encapsulation is required to provide the necessary insight into the design of better functional systems. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of various techniques to probe the host-guest chemistry of a novel Pd2L4 cage, which we show is preorganized to selectively bind dicyanoarene guests with high affinity through hydrogen-bonding and other weak interactions. In addition, we exemplify the use of Raman spectroscopy as a tool for analyzing coordination cages, exploiting alkyne and nitrile reporter functional groups that are contained within the host and guest, respectively.

Exploiting Supramolecular Interactions to Control Isomer Distributions in Reduced-Symmetry [Pd2L4]4+ Cages.

High-symmetry metallosupramolecular architectures (MSAs) have been exploited for a range of applications including molecular recognition, catalysis, and drug delivery. Recently, there have been increasing efforts to enhance those applications by generating reduced-symmetry MSAs. Here we report our attempts to use supramolecular (dispersion and hydrogen-bonding) forces and solvophobic effects to generate isomerically pure [Pd2(L)4]4+ cage architectures from a family of new reduced-symmetry ditopic tripyridyl ligands. The reduced-symmetry tripyridyl ligands featured either solvophilic polyether chains, solvophobic alkyl chains, or amino substituents. We show using NMR spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, X-ray diffraction data, and density functional theory calculations that the combination of dispersion forces and solvophobic effects does not provide any control of the [Pd2(L)4]4+ isomer distribution with mixtures of all four cage isomers (HHHH, HHHT, cis-HHTT, or trans-HTHT, where H = head and T = tail) obtained in each case. More control was obtained by exploiting hydrogen-bonding interactions between amino units. While the cage assembly with a 3-amino-substituted tripyridyl ligand leads to a mixture of all four possible isomers, the related 2-amino-substituted tripyridyl ligand generated a cis-HHTT cage architecture. Formation of the cis-HHTT [Pd2(L)4]4+ cage was confirmed using NMR studies and X-ray crystallography.

[CrIII8NiII6]n+ Heterometallic Coordination Cubes.

Three new heterometallic [CrIII8NiII6] coordination cubes of formulae [CrIII8NiII6L24(H2O)12](NO3)12 (1), [CrIII8NiII6L24(MeCN)7(H2O)5](ClO4)12 (2), and [CrIII8NiII6L24Cl12] (3) (where HL = 1-(4-pyridyl)butane-1,3-dione), were synthesised using the paramagnetic metalloligand [CrIIIL3] and the corresponding NiII salt. The magnetic skeleton of each capsule describes a face-centred cube in which the eight CrIII and six NiII ions occupy the eight vertices and six faces of the structure, respectively. Direct current magnetic susceptibility measurements on (1) reveal weak ferromagnetic interactions between the CrIII and NiII ions, with JCr-Ni = + 0.045 cm-1. EPR spectra are consistent with weak exchange, being dominated by the zero-field splitting of the CrIII ions. Excluding wheel-like structures, examples of large heterometallic clusters containing both CrIII and NiII ions are rather rare, and we demonstrate that the use of metalloligands with predictable bonding modes allows for a modular approach to building families of related polymetallic complexes. Compounds (1)-(3) join the previously published, structurally related family of [MIII8MII6] cubes, where MIII = Cr, Fe and MII = Cu, Co, Mn, Pd.

Synergistic Noncovalent Catalysis Facilitates Base-Free Michael Addition.

Carbon-carbon bond-forming processes that involve the deprotonation of a weakly acidic C-H pro-nucleophile using a strong Brønsted base are central to synthetic methodology. Enzymes also catalyze C-C bond formation from weakly C-H acidic substrates; however, they accomplish this at pH 7 using only collections of noncovalent interactions. Here, we show that a simple, bioinspired synthetic cage catalyzes Michael addition reactions using only Coulombic and other weak interactions to activate various pro-nucleophiles and electrophiles. The anion-stabilizing property of the cage promotes spontaneous pro-nucleophile deprotonation, suggesting acidity enhancement equivalent to several pKa units. Using a second noncovalent reagent-commercially available 18-crown-6-facilitates catalytic base-free addition of several challenging Michael partners. The cage's microenvironment also promotes high diastereoselectivity compared to a conventional base-catalyzed reaction.

Rationalizing the Activity of an "Artificial Diels-Alderase": Establishing Efficient and Accurate Protocols for Calculating Supramolecular Catalysis.

Self-assembled cages have emerged as novel platforms to explore bioinspired catalysis. While many different size and shape supramolecular structures are now readily accessible, only a few are known to accelerate chemical reactions under substoichiometric conditions. These limited examples point to a poor understanding of cage catalysis in general, limiting the ability to design new systems. Here we show that a simple and efficient density-functional-theory-based methodology, informed by explicitly solvated molecular dynamics and coupled cluster calculations, is sufficient to accurately reproduce experimental guest binding affinities (MAD = 1.9 kcal mol-1) and identify the catalytic Diels-Alder proficiencies (>80% accuracy) of two homologous Pd2L4 metallocages with a variety of substrates. This analysis reveals how subtle structural differences in the cage framework affect binding and catalysis. These effects manifest in a smaller distortion and more favorable interaction energy for the catalytic cage compared to the inactive structure. This study gives detailed insight that would otherwise be difficult to obtain from experiments, providing new opportunities in the design of catalytically active supramolecular cages.

Host-Guest-Induced Electron Transfer Triggers Radical-Cation Catalysis.

Modifying the reactivity of substrates by encapsulation is a fundamental principle of capsule catalysis. Here we show an alternative strategy, wherein catalytic activation of otherwise inactive quinone "co-factors" by a simple Pd2L4 capsule promotes a range of bulk-phase, radical-cation cycloadditions. Solution electron-transfer experiments and cyclic voltammetry show that the cage anodically shifts the redox potential of the encapsulated quinone by a significant 1 V. Moreover, the capsule also protects the reduced semiquinone from protonation, thus transforming the role of quinones from stoichiometric oxidants into catalytic single-electron acceptors. We envisage that the host-guest-induced release of an "electron hole" will translate to various forms of non-encapsulated catalysis that involve other difficult-to-handle, highly reactive species.

Navigated Self-Assembly of a Pd2L4 Cage by Modulation of an Energy Landscape under Kinetic Control.

Kinetic control of molecular self-assembly remains difficult because of insufficient understanding of molecular self-assembly mechanisms. Here we report the formation of a metastable [Pd2L4]4+ cage structure composed of naphthalene-based ditopic ligands (L) and Pd(II) ions in very high yield (99%) under kinetic control by modulating the energy landscape. When self-assembly occurs with anionic guests in weakly cooordinating solvent then suitable intermedites and the metastable cage is formed. These conditions also prevent further transformation into the thermodynamically decomposed state. The cage formation pathways under kinetic control and the effect of the anions encapsulated on the self-assembly processes were investigated by QASAP (quantitative analysis of self-assembly process) and NASAP (numerical analysis of self-assembly process). It was found that the self-assembly with a preferred guest (BF4-) proceeds through intermediates composed of no more components than the cage ([PdaLbXc]2a+ (a ≤ 2, b ≤ 4, X indicates a leaving ligand)) and that the final intramolecular cage-closure step is the rate-determining step. In contrast, a weaker guest (OTf-) causes the transient formation of intermediates composed of more components than the cage ([PdaLbXc]2a+ (a > 2, b > 4)), which are finally converted into the cage.

High Activity and Efficient Turnover by a Simple, Self-Assembled "Artificial Diels-Alderase".

The Diels-Alder (DA) reaction is a cornerstone of synthesis, yet Nature does not use catalysts for intermolecular [4+2] cycloadditions. Attempts to create artificial "Diels-Alderases" have also met with limited success, plagued by product inhibition. Using a simple Pd2L4 capsule we now show DA catalysis that combines efficient turnover alongside enzyme-like hallmarks. This includes excellent activity (kcat/kuncat > 103), selective transition-state stabilization comparable to the most proficient DA catalytic antibodies, and control over regio- and chemoselectivity that would otherwise be difficult to achieve using small-molecule catalysts. Unlike other catalytic approaches that use synthetic capsules, this method is not defined by entropic effects; instead multiple H-bonding interactions modulate reactivity, reminiscent of enzymatic action.

Visualizing Kinetically Robust CoIII4L6 Assemblies in Vivo: SPECT Imaging of the Encapsulated [99mTc]TcO4- Anion.

Noncovalent encapsulation is an attractive approach for modifying the efficacy and physiochemical properties of both therapeutic and diagnostic species. Abiotic self-assembled constructs have shown promise, yet many hurdles between in vitro and (pre)clinical studies remain, not least the challenges associated with maintaining the macromolecular, hollow structure under nonequilibrium conditions. Using a kinetically robust CoIII4L6 tetrahedron we now show the feasibility of encapsulating the most widely used precursor in clinical nuclear diagnostic imaging, the γ-emitting [99mTc]TcO4- anion, under conditions compatible with in vivo administration. Subsequent single-photon emission computed tomography imaging of the caged-anion reveals a marked change in the biodistribution compared to the thyroid-accumulating free oxo-anion, thus moving clinical applications of (metallo)supramolecular species a step closer.

Nanopore Detection of Single-Molecule Binding within a Metallosupramolecular Cage.

Guest encapsulation is a fundamental property of coordination cages. However, there is a paucity of methods capable of quantifying the dynamics of guest binding processes. Here, we demonstrate nanopore detection of single-molecule binding within metallosupramolecular cages. Real-time monitoring of the ion current flowing through a transmembrane α-hemolysin nanopore resolved the binding of different guests to both cage enantiomers. This enabled the single-molecule kinetics of guest binding to be quantified, whereas the ordering and durations of events were consistent with a guest-exchange mechanism that does not involve ligand dissociation. In addition to providing a new approach for single-molecule interrogation of dynamic supramolecular processes, this work also establishes that cage complexes which are too large to enter the nanopore can be exploited for detecting small molecules, thus constituting a new class of molecular adapter.

Quantitative Analysis of Self-Assembly Process of a Pd2 L4 Cage Consisting of Rigid Ditopic Ligands.

The self-assembly process of a Pd2 L4 cage complex consisting of rigid ditopic ligands, in which two 3-pyridyl groups are connected to a benzene ring through acetylene bonds and PdII ions was revealed by a recently developed quantitative analysis of self-assembly process (QASAP), with which the self-assembly process of coordination assemblies can be investigated by monitoring the evolution with time of the average composition of all the intermediates. QASAP revealed that the rate-determining steps of the cage formation are the intramolecular ligand exchanges in the final stage of the self-assembly: [Pd2 L4 Py*2 ]4+ →[Pd2 L4 Py*1 ]4+ +Py* and [Pd2 L4 Py*1 ]4+ →[Pd2 L4 ]4+ +Py* (Py*: 3-chloropyridine, which was used as a leaving ligand on the metal source). The energy barriers for the two reactions were determined to be 22.3 and 21.9 kcal mol-1 , respectively. DFT calculations of the transition-state (TS) structures for the two steps indicated that the distortion of the trigonal-bipyramidal PdII center at the TS geometries increases the activation free energy of the two steps.

Modular [FeIII8MII6] n+ (MII = Pd, Co, Ni, Cu) Coordination Cages.

The reaction of the simple metalloligand [FeIIIL3] [HL = 1-(4-pyridyl)butane-1,3-dione] with a variety of different MII salts results in the formation of a family of heterometallic cages of formulae [FeIII8PdII6L24]Cl12 (1), [FeIII8CuII6L24(H2O)4Br4]Br8 (2), [FeIII8CuII6L24(H2O)10](NO3)12 (3), [FeIII8NiII6L24(SCN)11Cl] (4), and [FeIII8CoII6L24(SCN)10(H2O)2]Cl2 (5). The metallic skeleton of each cage describes a cube in which the FeIII ions occupy the eight vertices and the MII ions lie at the center of the six faces. Direct-current magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements on 3-5 reveal the presence of weak antiferromagnetic exchange between the metal ions in all three cases. Computational techniques known in theoretical nuclear physics as statistical spectroscopy, which exploit the moments of the Hamiltonian to calculate relevant thermodynamic properties, determine JFe-Cu = 0.10 cm-1 for 3 and JFe-Ni = 0.025 cm-1 for 4. Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of 1 reveal a significantly wider spectral width in comparison to [FeL3], indicating that the magnitude of the FeIII zero-field splitting is larger in the heterometallic cage than in the monomer.

Orthogonal Selection and Fixing of Coordination Self-Assembly Pathways for Robust Metallo-organic Ensemble Construction.

Supramolecular construction strategies have overwhelmingly relied on the principles of thermodynamic control. While this approach has yielded an incredibly diverse and striking collection of ensembles, there are downsides, most obviously the necessity to trade-off reversibility against structural integrity. Herein we describe an alternative "assembly-followed-by-fixing" approach that possesses the high-yielding, atom-efficient advantages of reversible self-assembly reactions, yet gives structures that possess a covalent-like level of kinetic robustness. We have chosen to exemplify these principles in the preparation of a series of M2L3 helicates and M4L6 tetrahedra. While the rigidity of various bis(bidentate) ligands causes the larger species to be energetically preferred, we are able to freeze the self-assembly process under "non-ambient" conditions, to selectivity give the disfavored M2L3 helicates. We also demonstrate "kinetic-stimuli" (redox and light)-induced switching between architectures, notably reconstituting the lower energy tetrahedra into highly distorted helicates.

Maximizing Coordination Capsule-Guest Polar Interactions in Apolar Solvents Reveals Significant Binding.

Guest encapsulation underpins the functional properties of self-assembled capsules yet identifying systems capable of strongly binding small organic molecules in solution remains a challenge. Most coordination capsules rely on the hydrophobic effect to ensure effective solution-phase association. In contrast, we show that using non-interacting anions in apolar solvents can maximize favorable interactions between a cationic Pd2 L4 host and charge-neutral guests resulting in a dramatic increase in binding strength. With quinone-type guests, association constants in excess of 108 m-1 were observed, comparable to the highest previously recorded constant for a metallosupramolecular capsule. Modulation of optoelectronic properties of the guests was also observed, with encapsulation either changing or switching-on luminescence not present in the bulk phase.

[Cr(III)8M(II)6](12+) Coordination Cubes (M(II)=Cu, Co).

[Cr(III)8M(II)6](12+) (M(II) =Cu, Co) coordination cubes were constructed from a simple [Cr(III) L3 ] metalloligand and a "naked" M(II) salt. The flexibility in the design proffers the potential to tune the physical properties, as all the constituent parts of the cage can be changed without structural alteration. Computational techniques (known in theoretical nuclear physics as statistical spectroscopy) in tandem with EPR spectroscopy are used to interpret the magnetic behavior.

Combining complementary ligands into one framework for the construction of a ferromagnetically coupled [Mn(III)12] wheel.

Phenolic oxime and diethanolamine moieties have been combined into one organic framework, resulting in the formation of a novel ligand type that can be employed to construct a rare and unusual dodecametallic Mn wheel, within which nearest neighbours are coupled ferromagnetically.

Comparing organic and metallo-organic hydrazone molecular cages as potential carriers for doxorubicin delivery.

Molecular cages are three-dimensional supramolecular structures that completely wrap guest molecules by encapsulation. We describe a rare comparative study between a metallo-organic cage and a fully organic analogous system, obtained by hydrazone bond formation self-assembly. Both cages are able to encapsulate the anticancer drug doxorubicin, with the organic cage forming a 1 : 1 inclusion complex with µM affinity, whereas the metallo-organic host experiences disassembly by interaction with the drug. Stability experiments reveal that the ligands of the metallo-organic cage are displaced in buffer at neutral, acidic, and basic pH, while the organic cage only disassembles under acidic conditions. Notably, the organic cage also shows minimal cell toxicity, even at high doses, whilst the doxorubicin-cage complex shows in vitro anti-cancer activity. Collectively, these results show that the attributes of the pure organic molecular cage are suitable for the future challenges of in vivo drug delivery using molecular cages.

Picking the lock of coordination cage catalysis.

The design principles of metallo-organic assembly reactions have facilitated access to hundreds of coordination cages of varying size and shape. Many of these assemblies possess a well-defined cavity capable of hosting a guest, pictorially mimicking the action of a substrate binding to the active site of an enzyme. While there are now a growing collection of coordination cages that show highly proficient catalysis, exhibiting both excellent activity and efficient turnover, this number is still small compared to the vast library of metal-organic structures that are known. In this review, we will attempt to unpick and discuss the key features that make an effective coordination cage catalyst, linking structure to activity (and selectivity) using lessons learnt from both experimental and computational analysis of the most notable exemplars. We will also provide an outlook for this area, reasoning why coordination cages have the potential to become the gold-standard in (synthetic) non-covalent catalysis.