Cages for Chemical Separations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
Fine chemicals are used as building blocks for many of the products that we rely upon, from pharmaceuticals to plastics. These molecules are isolated from mixtures that are often derived from petroleum. This isolation process can be challenging, generally involving distillation, a process which requires substantial energy input. A key aim of this project is to develop a new and more energy-efficient separation technology involving metal-organic cages. These cages are known to encapsulate various small organic compounds based on size and shape. The current project will develop new means of programming the behaviour of these cages, so that they will pick up and release these 'guest' molecules in response to the stimuli of light and heat. These cages will then be built into systems that enable cages to pick up high-value molecules from feedstocks, such as petroleum. The cages and cargoes will be pumped into a space where their molecular cargo is released in pure form, allowing the cages to be recycled in a closed-loop purification process. We anticipate that this process will allow the separation of valuable molecules with higher energy efficiency and lower cost than current methods.
Planned Impact
As it will directly address the high energy cost of chemical purification, our research will have an impact on industry and the general public.
Industry: Our research will develop a new chemical purification method, benefiting chemical industry, its sub-sectors and the UK chemical supply chains. Our aim is to isolate small organic compounds with a higher selectivity at lower energy cost and minimise carbon dioxide emissions. Intellectual property (IP) will be protected and exploited in accordance with the policy of the University of Cambridge. After the protection of all relevant IP, dissemination will be through publication in high impact journals and presentation at national and international conferences.
General Public: Attention from the public to supramolecular chemistry has been increasing in recent years with the recognition of potential technological applications such as new materials. Our group's work has been highlighted in international journals (including Nature and Science). By addressing a key current societal challenge, we aim to mitigate the damage being done to the climate by excessive energy use and CO2 emission during chemical purification.
Industry: Our research will develop a new chemical purification method, benefiting chemical industry, its sub-sectors and the UK chemical supply chains. Our aim is to isolate small organic compounds with a higher selectivity at lower energy cost and minimise carbon dioxide emissions. Intellectual property (IP) will be protected and exploited in accordance with the policy of the University of Cambridge. After the protection of all relevant IP, dissemination will be through publication in high impact journals and presentation at national and international conferences.
General Public: Attention from the public to supramolecular chemistry has been increasing in recent years with the recognition of potential technological applications such as new materials. Our group's work has been highlighted in international journals (including Nature and Science). By addressing a key current societal challenge, we aim to mitigate the damage being done to the climate by excessive energy use and CO2 emission during chemical purification.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Jonathan Nitschke (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Ghosh A
(2024)
Light-Driven Purification of Progesterone from Steroid Mixtures Using a Photoresponsive Metal-Organic Capsule.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Zhu H
(2024)
Steric and Geometrical Frustration Generate Two Higher-Order Cu I 12 L 8 Assemblies from a Triaminotriptycene Subcomponent
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Zhu H
(2024)
Stereocontrolled Self-Assembly of a Helicate-Bridged Cu I 12 L 4 Cage That Emits Circularly Polarized Light
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Li M
(2024)
Metal Ions Trigger the Gelation of Cysteine-Containing Peptide-Appended Coordination Cages
in Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Davies JA
(2024)
Triamine and Tetramine Edge-Length Matching Drives Heteroleptic Triangular and Tetragonal Prism Assembly.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Speakman NMA
(2024)
A CuI6L4 Cage Dynamically Reconfigures to Form Suit[4]anes and Selectively Bind Fluorinated Steroids.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Ryan HP
(2023)
Quantifying the Effect of Guest Binding on Host Environment.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Yang Y
(2023)
Fluoride up- and down-regulates guest encapsulation for ZnII6L4 and ZnII4L4 cages
in Chem
Description | We have managed to create systems for the dynamic uptake and release of guests using both light and electricity as stimuli, publishing the results in major journals. |
Exploitation Route | To engineer new chemical purification methods of use to industry |
Sectors | Chemicals Energy Environment |
Description | Our work has attracted interest from Astex Pharmaceuticals, who have contributed in-kind to a study on the generation of larger polyhedra for protein encapsulation (Nature Synth. 2023, 2, 789-797). We are negotiating their investment in work to be undertaken in my group. |
First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
Sector | Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Impact Types | Economic |
Title | CCDC 2115416: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Weichao Xue, Tanya K. Ronson, Zifei Lu, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|6136|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c00245 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc29087v&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2115489: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Weichao Xue, Tanya K. Ronson, Zifei Lu, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|6136|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c00245 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc290bl8&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2153619: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: John P. Carpenter, Tanya K. Ronson, Felix J. Rizzuto, The´ophile He´liot, Peter Grice, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|8467|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c02261 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2b90l8&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2153620: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: John P. Carpenter, Tanya K. Ronson, Felix J. Rizzuto, The´ophile He´liot, Peter Grice, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|8467|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c02261 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2b90m9&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2153621: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: John P. Carpenter, Tanya K. Ronson, Felix J. Rizzuto, The´ophile He´liot, Peter Grice, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|8467|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c02261 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2b90nb&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2153622: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: John P. Carpenter, Tanya K. Ronson, Felix J. Rizzuto, The´ophile He´liot, Peter Grice, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|8467|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c02261 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2b90pc&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2163435: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: John P. Carpenter, Tanya K. Ronson, Felix J. Rizzuto, The´ophile He´liot, Peter Grice, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|144|8467|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c02261 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2bm77g&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2175722: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Carles Fuertes Espinosa, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|145|9965|doi:10.1021/jacs.3c00661 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c10l1&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2175723: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Carles Fuertes Espinosa, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|145|9965|doi:10.1021/jacs.3c00661 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c10m2&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2176135: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Larissa K. S. von Krbek, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|61|e202212634|doi:10.1002/anie.202212634 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c1fxs&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2176136: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Larissa K. S. von Krbek, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|61|e202212634|doi:10.1002/anie.202212634 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c1fyt&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2176137: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Larissa K. S. von Krbek, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|61|e202212634|doi:10.1002/anie.202212634 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c1fzv&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2176138: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Larissa K. S. von Krbek, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|61|e202212634|doi:10.1002/anie.202212634 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c1g0x&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2176139: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Larissa K. S. von Krbek, Tanya K. Ronson, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2022|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|61|e202212634|doi:10.1002/anie.202212634 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c1g1y&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2177262: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Yuchong Yang, Tanya K. Ronson, Jieyu Zheng, Nozomi Mihara, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|Chem (Cell Press)|9|1972|doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2023.03.027 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c2m8c&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2177263: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Yuchong Yang, Tanya K. Ronson, Jieyu Zheng, Nozomi Mihara, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|Chem (Cell Press)|9|1972|doi:10.1016/j.chempr.2023.03.027 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c2m9d&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2180301: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Hua-Kui Liu, Tanya K. Ronson, Kai Wu, Dong Luo, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|||doi:10.1021/jacs.3c03981 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2c5s9n&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2194876: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Amit Ghosh, Laura Slappendel, Bao-Nguyen T. Nguyen, Larissa K. S. von Krbek, Tanya K. Ronson, Ana M. Castilla, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|145|3828|doi:10.1021/jacs.2c10084 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2cnygg&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2215164: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Samuel E. Clark, Andrew W. Heard, Charlie T. McTernan, Tanya K. Ronson, Barbara Rossi, Petr Rozhin, Silvia Marchesan, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|Angew.Chem.,Int.Ed.|62|e202301612|doi:10.1002/anie.202301612 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2dc1xr&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2239369: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Kai Wu, Tanya K. Ronson, Leonard Goh, Weichao Xue, Andrew W. Heard, Pingru Su, Xiaopeng Li, Mladen Vinkovic´, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|||doi:10.1021/jacs.3c02491 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2f57ql&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2239370: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Kai Wu, Tanya K. Ronson, Leonard Goh, Weichao Xue, Andrew W. Heard, Pingru Su, Xiaopeng Li, Mladen Vinkovic´, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|||doi:10.1021/jacs.3c02491 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2f57rm&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2239371: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Kai Wu, Tanya K. Ronson, Leonard Goh, Weichao Xue, Andrew W. Heard, Pingru Su, Xiaopeng Li, Mladen Vinkovic´, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|||doi:10.1021/jacs.3c02491 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2f57sn&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2239372: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Kai Wu, Tanya K. Ronson, Leonard Goh, Weichao Xue, Andrew W. Heard, Pingru Su, Xiaopeng Li, Mladen Vinkovic´, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|||doi:10.1021/jacs.3c02491 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2f57tp&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2240187: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Kai Wu, Tanya K. Ronson, Leonard Goh, Weichao Xue, Andrew W. Heard, Pingru Su, Xiaopeng Li, Mladen Vinkovic´, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|||doi:10.1021/jacs.3c02491 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2f633w&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2247767: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Yuchong Yang, Tanya K. Ronson, Daniel M. Wood, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|Adv.Mater.|35|2302580|doi:10.1002/adma.202302580 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2ffzmh&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2247768: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Yuchong Yang, Tanya K. Ronson, Daniel M. Wood, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|Adv.Mater.|35|2302580|doi:10.1002/adma.202302580 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2ffznj&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2247769: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Jieyu Zheng, Yuchong Yang, Tanya K. Ronson, Daniel M. Wood, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|Adv.Mater.|35|2302580|doi:10.1002/adma.202302580 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2024 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2ffzpk&sid=DataCite |
Title | CCDC 2255439: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination |
Description | Related Article: Yuchong Yang, Tanya K. Ronson, Dingyu Hou, Jieyu Zheng, Ilma Jahovic´, Kai Hong Luo, Jonathan R. Nitschke|2023|J.Am.Chem.Soc.|145|19164|doi:10.1021/jacs.3c04228 |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/services/structure_request?id=doi:10.5517/ccdc.csd.cc2fpz37&sid=DataCite |