Micellar catalysis is nowadays a well established approach to convert traditional catalytic reactions commonly run in organic solvents into more efficient, selective, recyclable green catalytic reactions.

Catalytic hydration of neutral isonitriles to yield the corresponding N-formylamides was achieved by reversible encapsulation in a self-assembled hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule. Encapsulation of a photochromic dithienylethene bis-cation provides different levels of competitive inhibition depending on the geometry assumed by the cationic inhibitor.

Reversible encapsulation of [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) within a self-assembled hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule turns off the photocatalytic aerobic oxidation of an aliphatic sulfide. Upon addition of a competitive cationic guest, the Ru(II) catalyst is released into solution where its catalytic activity is restored.

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