Molecular Recognition Between a Water‐Soluble Organometallic Complex and a β‐Cyclodextrin: First Example of Second‐Sphere Coordination Adducts Possessing a Catalytic Activity

Formation of stable second‐sphere adducts between a water‐soluble organometallic complex and a cyclodextrin (CD) is possible by finely designing the structure of the water‐soluble phosphane. The key point to obtain such adducts was the synthesis of a water‐soluble phosphane which possesses a tert‐butylphenyl group recognized by the CD and separated from the phosphorus atom by a phenyl ring to avoid phosphane decoordination during the molecular recognition process between the organometallic complex and the CD. These adducts are able to catalyze the cleavage of water‐insoluble carbonate in a biphasic system.