The microenvironment within self-assembled supramolecular coordination cages (SCCs) inaugurates a new phase of chemistry other than the conventional solid, liquid and gaseous phases. The rational design and ease of synthesis of self-assembled architectures have received tremendous attention mainly in the field of supramolecular chemistry. The structural transition from 2-D metallacycles to 3-D metallacages has led to better encapsulation and enhanced cavity effects, like restricted substrate motion, desolvation of the substrate and covalent binding of the transition state etc. Metal-mediated self-assemblies, principally known as metallo-supramolecular coordination cages (MSCCs), form a separate class of SCCs with unique chemical phenomena inside the cavities. The aesthetic structural diversity of MSCCs obtained from the rational choice of metal knots and organic linkers renders designable and programmable architectures. This review presents cavity-based applications of these MSCCs, such as molecular recognition and separation, stabilization of reactive species by encapsulation, as drug-delivery systems and as “molecular flasks” to foster reactions with unprecedented results. The objective of this review is to inspire and pave the way for researchers working in this field to design more advanced MSCCs and gain deep insight into cavity effects.

中文翻译：

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金属-超分子配位笼（MSCC）的基于腔的应用

自组装的超分子配位笼（SCC）中的微环境开创了化学的新阶段，而传统的固相，液相和气相除外。自组装结构的合理设计和易于合成，在超分子化学领域受到了极大的关注。从2-D金属环化合物到3-D金属环的结构转变导致更好的封装和增强的腔效应，例如受限制的底物运动，底物的去溶剂化和过渡态的共价结合等。金属介导的自组装体，主要称为金属-超分子配位笼（MSCC），形成一类单独的SCC，它们在腔体内具有独特的化学现象。通过合理选择金属结和有机连接基而获得的MSCC美学结构上的多样性，使可设计和可编程的体系结构成为可能。这篇综述介绍了这些MSCC基于腔的应用，例如分子识别和分离，通过封装稳定反应性物种，作为药物传递系统和“分子瓶”以促进反应，并取得了空前的成果。这篇综述的目的是为该领域的研究人员设计更先进的MSCC并为洞效应的深入研究提供启发和铺平道路。