Supramolecular chemistry, cage-like

Some rigid tripodal ligands have been synthesized for the construction of various novel cage- or box-like complexes, and have demonstrated their potential use in supramolecular chemistry. The relatively flexible amide-type ligand (136) was prepared by the replacement reaction of 1,1,1-tris(p-tosyloxymethyl)propane and /V-benzylsalicylamide.217... 

Cage-like compounds are among the more complex supramolecular structures and are formed through the connection of tripodal or even more complex building blocks in a specific manner. It is perhaps one of the areas in supramolecular chemistry that has benefited most from noncovalent thermodynamically controlled synthetic methods. 

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