New family of hollow molecules separates troublesome hydrocarbon mixtures
Meet the cagearenes – 3D frameworks made from aromatic building blocks and methylene groups
A new family of molecular cages has been synthesised using classical covalent chemistry, overcoming the limitations of both supramolecular and self-assembled organic frameworks. These cages, dubbed cagearenes, are able to separate hydrocarbon mixtures through a process called programmed release, which has widespread applications in both drug delivery and chemical production.