Bioinspired complexes confined in well-defined capsules: getting closer to metalloenzyme functionalities

Abstract

Reproducing the key features offered by metalloprotein binding cavities is an attractive approach to overcome the main bottlenecks of current open artificial models (in terms of stability, efficiency and selectivity). In this context, this featured article brings together selected examples of recent developments in the field of confined bioinspired complexes with an emphasis on the emerging hemicryptophane caged ligands. In particular, we focused on (1) the strategies allowing the insulation and protection of complexes sharing similarities with metalloprotein active sites, (2) the confinement-induced improvement of catalytic efficiencies and selectivities and (3) very recent efforts that have been made toward the development of bioinspired complexes equipped with weakly binding artificial cavities.