Enhancement of catalytic performance in asymmetric transfer hydrogenation by microenvironment engineering of the nanocage

Ru-TsDPEN confined in the nanocage with an amphiphilic microenvironment can be ten times more active than that with a hydrophobic one in the transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone in HCOONa-H(2)O, which is mainly due to the enhanced diffusion rates of reactants during the catalytic process.