Computational screening for nested organic cage complexes
File(s)c9me00085b.pdf (4.32 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Berardo, Enrico
Miklitz, Marcin
Greenaway, Rebecca
Cooper, Andrew
Jelfs, Kim
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Supramolecular self-assembly has allowed the synthesis of beautiful and complex molecular architectures, such as cages, macrocycles, knots, catenanes, and rotaxanes. We focus here on porous organic cages, which are molecules that have an intrinsic cavity and multiple windows. These cages have been shown to be highly effective at molecular separations and encapsulations. We investigate the possibility of complexes where one cage sits within the cavity of another. We term this a ‘nested cage’ complex. The design of such complexes is highly challenging, so we use computational screening to explore 8712 different pair combinations, running almost 0.5M calculations to sample the phase space of the cage conformations. Through analysing the binding energies of the assemblies, we identify highly energetically favourable pairs of cages in nested cage complexes. The vast majority of the most favourable complexes include the large imine cage reported by Gawronski and co-workers using a [8+12] reaction of 4- ´ tert butyl-2,6-diformylphenol and cis,cis-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane. The most energetically favourable nested cage complex combines the Gawronski cage with a dodecaamide cage that has six vertices, which can sit in the ´ six windows of the larger cage. We also identify cages that have favourable binding energies for self-catenation.
Date Issued
2020
Date Acceptance
2019-08-12
Citation
Molecular Systems Design and Engineering, 2020, 5 (1), pp.186-196
ISSN
2058-9689
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
186
End Page
196
Journal / Book Title
Molecular Systems Design and Engineering
Volume
5
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© Royal Society of Chemistry 2019
Sponsor
The Royal Society
The Royal Society
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/ME/C9ME00085B#!divAbstract
Grant Number
URF\R\180012
UF120469
EP/M017257/1
EP/N004884/1
EP/P005543/1
758370
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Engineering, Chemical
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Engineering
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Materials Science
LANDSCAPES
MOLECULES
CHEMISTRY
CATENANE
POROSITY
DISCRETE
DESIGN
ACID
SIZE
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2019-08-13