Review analyzes organic molecular cages for catalytic processes, suggesting future applications in synthesis.
Organic molecular cages (OMCs) bridge the precision of natural enzymes with synthetic robustness, offering soluble architectures that merge homogeneous efficiency with recyclability. Distinct from prior reviews focusing on structural diversity, this review comprehensively analyzes OMCs as functional enzyme mimics. We systematically examine four key catalytic paradigms: (1) cooperative acid–base catalysis via preorganized microenvironments; (2) enhanced photocatalysis through prolonged excited‐state lifetimes; (3) efficient electrocatalysis using site‐isolated metal centers; and (4) asymmetric synthesis governed by chiral induction. Special emphasis is placed on how spatial confinement and dynamic adaptability emulate enzymatic principles to achieve superior reactivity and selectivity. Finally, we outline future trajectories, including integrating peptide flexibility enabling induced‐fit mechanisms and merging photochemistry with chiral cavities for stereocontrolled radical processes, positioning OMCs as next‐generation catalysts for sustainable synthesis.
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Shi et al. (2026) studied this question.
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