Confinement effects on the structure and reactivity of encapsulated buckybowls in cycloparaphenylene

Abstract

We theoretically investigated the host–guest chemistry between belt-like cycloparaphenylenes (CPPs) and entrapped bowl-shaped sumanene and corannulene. Density functional theory calculations show that the buckybowls can be stabilized in a CPP host with an appropriately sized cavity (e.g., [10]CPP) through multi-site CH–π interactions. Arising from the confined intermolecular interactions within the cavity, the restrictive buckybowls display novel reactivity distinct from that in their free state.