On the encapsulation of hydrocarbon components of natural gas within molecular baskets in water. The role of C–H⋯π interactions and the host's conformational dynamics in the process of encapsulation†
Abstract
We examined the encapsulation of CH4, C2H6, C3H8 and iso-C4H10 in water, using four molecular baskets [1]–[4]. The baskets were shown to bind to hydrocarbon gases by forming favourable C–H⋯π contacts and, concurrently, adjusting the size of their cup-shaped platform.