Covalent Organic Cages in Catalysis

Supramolecular architectures have flowered over the past few decades as an inventive class of functional materials for various applications. Discrete porous molecular cages are anticipated to be potential supramolecular catalysts that mimic enzyme-like catalytic activities. In this context, dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC)-driven organic cages received an enormous research interest due to the easy engineering of these porous cages with desired shapes, sizes, and functionalities. Herein, we have highlighted the role of DCC-driven stable porous cages as catalysts where catalysis occurs via the activation of the encapsulated substrates. As a result, in many cases these hosts result in better yields and stereoselectivity compared to conventional reactions without cages. This perspective presents the use of dynamic covalent bond-driven organic cages as efficient supramolecular catalysts under both homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction conditions. Specifically, the implementation of imine/amine organic cages as solid supports for ultrafine metal nanocatalysts is briefly focused on. Furthermore, various aspects of postsynthetically modified stable organic cages as efficient supramolecular hosts in different organic transformations are emphasized. Overall, we have critically analyzed the potential of porous organic cages as suitable platforms for organic transformations and for generating catalytically active metal nanoparticles.