This fundamental book presents the most comprehensive summary of the current state of the art
in the chemistry of cage compounds. It introduces different ways of how ions and molecules can
be encapsulated by three-dimensional caging ligands to form molecular and polymeric species:
covalent supramolecular and coordination capsules. The authors introduce their classification
reactivity and selected practical applications. Because encapsulation can isolate caged ions
and molecules from external factors the encapsulated species can exhibit unique physical and
chemical properties. The resulting specific reactivity and selectivity can open up a range of
applications including chemical separation recognition chiral separation catalysis
applications as sensors or probes as molecular or supramolecular devices or molecular
carriers (cargo).A particularly strong emphasis in this book is on the summary and review of
the synthesis of various types of cage compounds. Readers will find over 850 literature
references summarized and clearly represented in over 600 schemes and illustrations. The book
is structured by the types of caging ligands (covalent supramolecular or coordination
capsules). The authors further arranged the chapters by ligand classes and types of
encapsulated species (neutral molecules anions or cations). Readers will hence find an
exhaustive reference resource and summary of the current state of research into encapsulated
species nowadays almost a separated realm of modern chemistry.
