-phenylene ring, which is also connected to two hydrophilic trimethylammonium groups. The bent hydrophobic framework and its hydrophobic effect cause multipleleads to the immediate disassembly of the capsule. Moreover, the subsequent addition of a reductant such as ascorbic acid neutralizes the oxidant, leading to the quick reassembly of the capsule.
The on-demand assembly and disassembly of the new capsule becomes even more useful when considering that it can bind to guest molecules in the cavity.
The team discovered unusual host-guest charge-transfer interactions upon the encapsulation of electron-accepting molecules by the capsule . The interactions were observed as relatively wide absorption bands, ranging from 650-1350 nm, in the visible to near-infrared spectrum. These interactions could also be reversibly turned on and off by controlling the assembly and disassembly of the capsule.
The present multi-ferrocene-based capsule could find applications across various fields, such as medicine, biotechnology, chemical synthesis, and more. Further studies are already underway."On the basis of the present achievement, our next study will focus on the development of various types of organometallic capsules, such as ones with magnetic and medicinal properties and catalytic activity," concludes Dr. Tanaka.