从分立多孔有机笼构建基于笼的三维框架材料显现出CO_2吸附增强

正多孔有机笼(Porous Organic Cage)是近年来出现的一类新型多孔材料~(1–4),与分子筛、金属有机骨架材料(MOFs)、共价有机骨架材料(COFs)等二维或三维框架多孔材料不同,多孔有机笼是分立的晶体材料,分立的构筑单元多通过弱相互作用堆积成有序多孔结构,其孔隙由笼内空腔和堆积贯通孔组成。与此同时,多孔有机笼还具备良好的可溶性,多孔有机笼在气体吸附,小分子选择     

Encapsulation of Isolated Luminophores within Supramolecular Cages

The sequestration of luminophores within supramolecular polyhedral compartments of a crystalline zeolite‐like hydrogen‐bonded framework illustrates a unique approach to limiting the self‐quenching ordinarily exhibited at the high concentrations achievable in this framework. A range of differently sized luminescent guests, namely coumarin 1, coumarin 4, fluorescein, [Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂, and rhodamine B, can be encapsulated in amounts of up to one molecule per cage, equivalent to a concentration of 0.175 m , which is significantly higher than the concentration at which aggregation‐induced quenching occurs in other media. The luminescence spectra of the encapsulated guests are consistent with the presence of isolated monomers and the absence of self‐quenching. The emission color of the single crystals can be tuned readily from blue to red through the choice of guest molecules. These observations promise an approach to organic solid‐state lasing compounds if crystals of sufficient size and quality can be prepared.     

Chiral Self‐Sorting of [2+3] Salicylimine Cage Compounds

An inherently chiral C₃‐symmetric triaminotribenzotriquinacene was condensed in racemic and enantiomerically pure form with a bis(salicylaldehyde) to form [2+3] salicylimine cage compounds. Investigations on the chiral self‐sorting revealed that while entropy favors narcissistic self‐sorting in solution, selective social self‐sorting can be achieved by exploiting the difference in solubility between the homochiral and heterochiral cages. Gas sorption measurements further showed that seemingly small structural differences can have a significant impact on the surface area of microporous covalent cage compounds.     

Highly Selective Enamination of β‐ketoesters Catalyzed by Interlocked [Cu8] and [Cu18] Nanocages

Interlocking cages are of great interest due to their fascinating structures and potential applications. However, the interlocking of different cages has not been previously reported. Herein, quadruply interlocked [Cu₈] and [Cu₁₈] nanocages have been constructed and structurally characterized in cationic metal–organic framework {[Cu^ICu₄^II(XN)₄(PTA)₄(H₂O)₄]0.5 SO₄?5 H₂O?EtOH}_n ( 1 ). 1 can trap the anionic pollutant CrO₄^2? and the radioactive‐contaminant simulant ReO₄^? with an uptake capacity of 83.2 and 218 mg g^?1, respectively. Catalytic investigations reveal 1 is an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the enamination of ethyl acetoacetate with aniline and the turnover frequency (TOF) can reach a record value of 4000 h^?1. More importantly, 1 represents the first of a catalyst of enamination to exhibit excellent size selectivity on different substrates. The robust catalyst can be reused at least ten times without obvious loss in catalytic activity.     

Odd–Even Alternation in Tautomeric Porous Organic Cages with Exceptional Chemical Stability

Amine‐linked (C−NH) porous organic cages (POCs) are preferred over the imine‐linked (C=N) POCs owing to their enhanced chemical stability. In general, amine‐linked cages, obtained by the reduction of corresponding imines, are not shape‐persistent in the crystalline form. Moreover, they require multistep synthesis. Herein, a one‐pot synthesis of four new amine‐linked organic cages by the reaction of 1,3,5‐triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) with different analogues of alkanediamine is reported. The POCs resulting from the odd diamine (having an odd number of −CH₂ groups) is conformationally eclipsed, while the POCs constructed from even diamines adopt a gauche conformation. This odd–even alternation in the conformation of POCs has been supported by computational calculations. The synthetic strategy hinges on the concept of Schiff base condensation reaction followed by keto–enol tautomerization. This mechanism is the key for the exceptional chemical stability of cages and facilitates their resistance towards acids and bases.     

From a Si3‐Cyclopropene to a Si3S‐Bicyclo[1.1.0]butane to a Si3S‐Cyclopropene to a Si3S2‐Bicyclo[1.1.0]butane: Back‐and‐Forth,and In‐Between

Compact and highly reactive bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes constitute one of the most fascinating classes of organic compounds. Furthermore, interplay of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes with their valence isomers, such as buta‐1,3‐dienes and cyclobutenes, is among the fundamental pericyclic transformations in organic chemistry. Herein we report the back‐and‐forth interconversion between the cyclotrisilenes and thiatrisilabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes, allowing for the synthesis of novel representatives of such classes of highly reactive organometallics. The peculiar structural and bonding features of the newly synthesized compounds, as well as the mechanism of their isomerization, were verified both experimentally and computationally.     

Transformation of a [4+6] Salicylbisimine Cage to Chemically Robust Amide Cages

In recent years, interest in shape‐persistent organic cage compounds has steadily increased, not least because dynamic covalent bond formation enables such structures to be made in high to excellent yields. One often used type of dynamic bond formation is the generation of an imine bond from an aldehyde and an amine. Although the reversibility of the imine bond formation is advantageous for high yields, it is disadvantageous for the chemical stability of the compounds. Amide bonds are, in contrast to imine bonds much more robust. Shape‐persistent amide cages have so far been made by irreversible amide bond formations in multiple steps, very often accompanied by low yields. Here, we present an approach to shape‐persistent amide cages by exploiting a high‐yielding reversible cage formation in the first step, and a Pinnick oxidation as a key step to access the amide cages in just three steps. These chemically robust amide cages can be further transformed by bromination or nitration to allow post‐functionalization in high yields. The impact of the substituents on the gas sorption behavior was also investigated.     

Oriented Two‐Dimensional Porous Organic Cage Crystals

The formation of two‐dimensional (2D) oriented porous organic cage crystals (consisting of imine‐based tetrahedral molecules) on various substrates (such as silicon wafers and glass) by solution‐processing is reported. Insight into the crystallinity, preferred orientation, and cage crystal growth was obtained by experimental and computational techniques. For the first time, structural defects in porous molecular materials were observed directly and the defect concentration could be correlated with crystal growth rate. These oriented crystals suggest potential for future applications, such as solution‐processable molecular crystalline 2D membranes for molecular separations.     

Stabilization of Formate Dehydrogenase in a Metal–Organic Framework for Bioelectrocatalytic Reduction of CO2

The efficient fixation of excess CO₂ from the atmosphere to yield value‐added chemicals remains crucial in response to the increasing levels of carbon emission. Coupling enzymatic reactions with electrochemical regeneration of cofactors is a promising technique for fixing CO₂, while producing biomass which can be further transformed into biofuels. Herein, a bioelectrocatalytic system was established by depositing crystallites of a mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF), termed NU‐1006, containing formate dehydrogenase, on a fluorine‐doped tin oxide glass electrode modified with Cp*Rh(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐5,5′‐dicarboxylic acid)Cl₂ complex. This system converts CO₂ into formic acid at a rate of 79±3.4 mm h^?1 with electrochemical regeneration of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide cofactor. The MOF–enzyme composite exhibited significantly higher catalyst stability when subjected to non‐native conditions compared to the free enzyme, doubling the formic acid yield.