The hole story of how cage molecules could transform synthesis and separation
By 
Katrina Krämer2021-01-20T09:43:00
Chemists are getting to grips with how to put molecules inside other molecules and how this could protect highly reactive reagents and create enzyme-like catalysts
After 35 years of research, chemists are starting to unlock the potential of confinement by designing molecular cages that fold up long molecules into huge macrocycles, or creating cavities that can separate deuterium from hydrogen. In the future, confined spaces could rival enzymes in their ability to catalyse reactions or protect unstable species, turning them into useful reagents.