Molecular cages give amides a twist to increase reactivity up to 14 times
Squeezing amides into twisted conformation inside nanosized cages makes them easier to hydrolyse
Trapping amides inside a molecular cage small enough to twist them out of shape makes them up to 14 times more reactive, chemists in Japan have discovered. This mechanical twisting method is inspired by the way enzymes break peptide bonds and could eventually lead to catalysts that work under ambient conditions.