Cage-Catalyzed Knoevenagel
Condensation under Neutral
Conditions in Water
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Abstract
A cationic coordination cage dramatically accelerates
the Knoevenagel
condensation of aromatic aldehydes in water under neutral conditions.
The addition of a nucleophile to the aldehyde to generate anionic
intermediates seems to be facilitated by the cationic environment
of the cavity. The products are ejected from the cage as a result
of the host–guest size discrepancy. As a result, the condensation
is promoted by a catalytic amount of the cage