title: [Fe4L6](8+) cages: encapsulation and catalytic degradation of an insecticide.
abstract: Chiral bis(diimine) ligands (derived from chiral enantiopure diamines and 2-formylpyridine) enantioselectively self-assemble with an iron (II) salt to either the tetrahedral cage molecule ΔΔΔΔ-[Fe4L6](8+) or its enantiomer, ΛΛΛΛ-[Fe4L6](8+). These versatile water-soluble capsules are capable of binding a wide range of organic guests in their large hydrophobic cavities. Among these guests is the neurotoxic insecticide dichlorvos, for which the ΔΔΔΔ-[Fe4L6](8+) coordination capsule serves as a competent supramolecular catalyst for its hydrolysis.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK. j.l.bolliger@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jeanne L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bolliger
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D003959:Diamines / Q000737:chemistry; D004006:Dichlorvos / Q000737:chemistry*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C538889:2-formyl pyridine; D056831:Coordination Complexes; D003959:Diamines; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007306:Insecticides; D008024:Ligands; D011725:Pyridines; D014867:Water; D004006:Dichlorvos; D007501:Iron