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.

Publications

10 25 50
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Greenfield JL (2022) Self-Assembly of Double-Helical Metallopolymers. in Accounts of chemical research

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Greenfield JL (2021) Electrically Induced Mixed Valence Increases the Conductivity of Copper Helical Metallopolymers. in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)

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Zheng J (2022) Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit in Angewandte Chemie

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Xue W (2023) Allosterically Regulated Guest Binding Determines Framework Symmetry for an FeII 4 L4 Cage. in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

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Clark SE (2023) A Double-Walled Tetrahedron with AgI 4 Vertices Binds Different Guests in Distinct Sites. in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

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Davies JA (2023) Tetramine Aspect Ratio and Flexibility Determine Framework Symmetry for Zn8 L6 Self-Assembled Structures. in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

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Jahovic I (2023) Capture of Singlet Oxygen Modulates Host-Guest Behavior of Coordination Cages. in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

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Heckelmann I (2023) Supramolecular Self-Assembly as a Tool To Preserve the Electronic Purity of Perylene Diimide Chromophores. in Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)

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Zheng J (2022) Host Spin-Crossover Thermodynamics Indicate Guest Fit in Angewandte Chemie International Edition

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Lu Z (2022) The fullerene awakens in Chem

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Ryan HP (2023) Quantifying the Effect of Guest Binding on Host Environment. in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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McTernan CT (2021) Selective Anion Binding Drives the Formation of AgI8L6 and AgI12L6 Six-Stranded Helicates. in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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Espinosa C (2023) Secondary Bracing Ligands Drive Heteroleptic Cuboctahedral Pd II 12 Cage Formation in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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Nguyen B (2021) Coordination Cages Selectively Transport Molecular Cargoes Across Liquid Membranes in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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Wu K (2023) A Diverse Array of Large Capsules Transform in Response to Stimuli in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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Ghosh A (2023) Light-Powered Reversible Guest Release and Uptake from Zn4L4 Capsules. in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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Gorman J (2022) Deoxyribonucleic Acid Encoded and Size-Defined p-Stacking of Perylene Diimides. in Journal of the American Chemical Society

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Heard AW (2021) A ravel alliance. in Nature chemistry

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Zhang D (2021) Metal-organic cages for molecular separations. in Nature reviews. Chemistry

 
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