[Fe₄L₆]⁸⁺ Cages: Encapsulation and Catalytic Degradation of an Insecticide

Authors

  • Jeanne L. Bolliger University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK. j.l.bolliger@gmail.com

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2014.204

Keywords:

Catalytic hydrolysis of insecticides, Host–guest chemistry, Organophosphates, Self-assembly, Supramolecular catalysis

Abstract

Chiral bis(diimine) ligands (derived from chiral enantiopure diamines and 2-formylpyridine) enantioselectively self-assemble with an iron (ii) salt to either the tetrahedral cage molecule ΔΔΔΔ-[Fe4L6]8+ or its enantiomer, ΛΛΛΛ-[Fe4L6]8+. These versatile water-soluble capsules are capable of binding a wide range of organic guests in their large hydrophobic cavities. Among these guests is the neurotoxic insecticide dichlorvos, for which the ΔΔΔΔ-[Fe4L6]8+ coordination capsule serves as a competent supramolecular catalyst for its hydrolysis.

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Published

2014-04-30