A chiral self-sorting photoresponsive coordination cage based on overcrowded alkenes (Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry)

Abstract In recent years, increasing efforts have been devoted to designing new functional stimuli-responsive supramolecular assemblies. Here, we present three isomeric supramolecular coordination complexes consisting of a Pd2L4 stoichiometry. As shown by NMR, CD and X-ray studies, as well as DFT calculations, these complexes form cage-like structures by chiral self-sorting. Photochromic ligands derived from first generation molecular motors enable light-driven interconversion between the three isomers. Two of the isomers were able to form host–guest complexes opening up new prospects toward stimuli-controlled substrate binding and release. Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2019, 15, 2767–2773. doi:10.3762/bjoc.15.268