Allosteric Supramolecular Triple-Layer Catalysts

作者:Yoon Hyo Jae; Kuwabara Junpei; Kim Jun Hyun; Mirkin Chad A*
来源:Science, 2010, 330(6000): 66-69.
DOI:10.1126/science.1193928

摘要

Allosteric regulation of organometallic catalysts could allow for greater control over reactions. We report an allosteric supramolecular structure in which a monometallic catalytic site has been buried in the middle layer of a triple-layer complex. Small molecules and elemental anions can open and close this complex and reversibly expose and conceal the catalytic center. The ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone can be turned on by the in situ opening of the triple-layer complex and then completely turned off by reforming it through the abstraction of Cl(-), the allosteric effector agent, without appreciable loss of catalytic activity. This process can regulate the molecular weights of the resulting polymers.