Highly Selective Supramolecular Catalyzed Allylic Alcohol Isomerization

A supramolecular tetrahedral assembly Na 12 Ga 4 L 6 (L = 1,5-bis-catecholamide naphthalene) has been found to selectively encapsulate monocationic rhodium complexes of the appropriate size and shape. Encapsulation within the chiral environment of the host directly affects the symmetry of the rhodium guest and can be well characterized by NMR spectroscopy. The rhodium complexes were found to be catalytically active for the isomerization of allylic alcohols. Investigations into the catalytic activity of the encapsulated rhodium guests have shown that the constrained cavity of the host exerts a strong influence on the reactivity at the metal center. The supramolecular host prevents substrates of the wrong size and shape from entering the host cavity and reacting with the encapsulated metal center, while substrates of the correct dimensions are allowed ready access. These results suggest that the metal center remains in the active site of the host while reactants and products freely and rapidly access the host cavity.