Artificial Enzymes Formed through Directed Assembly of Molecular Square Encapsulated Epoxidation Catalysts

Self‐Assembled Nanoreactors

“…Using a very elegant concept, Nguyen and Hupp have demonstrated the self-assembly and encapsulation of both the catalyst and the substrate within the molecular square 43, 109 which is constructed, in a single step and in quantitative yield, by the coordination of four zinc porphyrins via their pyridyl ligands to four tris(carbonyl)rhenium chloride centers. 110 The assembly has the shape of an open-ended box with an internal cavity of approximate dimensions 18 × 18 × 18 Å.…”

Supramolecular assembly dynamics

“…Nguyen, Hupp, and coworkers (33) describe what they call an artificial enzyme formed by binding a Mn 3ϩ porphyrin epoxidation catalyst within a molecular square. In comparison to the free catalyst, their system demonstrated enhanced catalyst stability and substrate selectivity.…”

Interactions between Physics and Biodisciplines within the Framework of Molecular Sciences

“…Crystallic proteins and enzymes are frequently less sensitive than chemists believe: stabilized materials can even serve as bioorganic zeolites [6]. Stability may be sometimes enhanced by introducing an enzyme into a hydrogel matrix [7]. From this perspective effort to make progress on the road to synthetic enzymes appears promising [8].…”