Host–guest complexation of α,ω-dibromides showed rabid tumbling conformation on NMR timescales and afforded mono hydroxyl bromides after hydrolysis in D2O.

Radical reduction of alkyl halides and aerobic oxidation of alkyl aromatics are reported using water-soluble container compounds (1 and 2). The reductions involve α,ω-dihalides (4–8 and 10) with radical initiators in cavitand hosts with varied binding affinities. Product distributions lead to general guidelines for the use of dynamic supramolecular systems with fast reactions. The binding of guest substrates in the hosts must show high affinities (K a > 103 M–1) to ensure that the reactions take place under confinement in the containers.

No abstract

The cavitand induced “yo-yo” motion was applied to mono-epoxidation reaction of α,ω-dienes using N-bromosuccinamide and K2CO3 in D2O.