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

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 ????-[Fe4L6]8+ or its enantiomer, ????-[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 ????-[Fe4L6]8+ coordination capsule serves as a competent supramolecular catalyst for its hydrolysis.

Keywords

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