Host-in-Host Complexation: Activating Classical Hosts through Complete Encapsulation within an M9L6 Coordination Cage

Abstract

This study reports a method for enhancing the functions and properties of traditional organic macrocyclic hosts by fully encapsulating them within a large M9L6 cage to form host-in-host complexes. Within the cage host, the macrocyclic organic hosts with electron-rich aromatic rings, such as cyclotriveratrylene and calix[8]arene, adopt specific orientations enhancing their inherent molecular recognition abilities. Due to the high crystallinity of the M9L6 cage, the guest encapsulation behavior of the host-in-host complexes can be observed by X-ray structural analysis.