Robust nanoporous organic cage molecules

Christian Doonan (University of Adelaide)

Assemblies of porous molecular cages (PMCs) are a burgeoning field in materials science. By utilizing PMCs as discrete building blocks, solid state materials have been synthesized with unique propities.[1-3] A unique feature of PMCs is that they have all the benefits of extended porous structures such as microporous polymers, or metal organic frameworks (MOFs), whilst maintaining the solubility and versatility associated with small molecules. Hitherto, such cages have been constructed from dynamic covalent chemistry using 'one pot' synthetic methods. We have recently explored the design and synthesis of highly porous PMCs constructed solely from carbon atoms. Such materials promise important scientific outcomes through future practical opportunities as well as tackling a fascinating set of fundamental challenges in synthetic chemistry, materials science, crystal engineering, and crystallography.

1. Modular and predictable assembly of porous organic molecular crystals, J.T.A. Jones, T. Hasell, X. Wu, J. Bacsa, K.E. Jelfs, M. Schmidtmann, S.Y. Chong, D.J. Adams, A. Trewin, F. Schiffmann, F. Cora, B. Slater, A. Steiner, G.M. Day and A.I. Cooper. Nature,2011,474, 367-371.

2. Porous organic molecular solids by dynamic covalent scrambling, S. Jiang, J.T.A Jones, T. Hasell, C.E. Blythe, D.J. Adams, A. Trewin and A.I. Cooper. Nature Comm.,2011,2, 207.

3.Porous organic molecules, J.R. Holst, A. Trewin and A.I. Cooper. Nature Chem.,2010,2, 915-920

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