Playing with podands based on cone-shaped cavities. How can a cavity influence the properties of an appended metal centre?

The potential of molecules that combine the properties of a conical cavity with those of a covalently-linked transition-metal centre is highlighted through the assessment of cyclodextrin- and calixarene-derived podands ("cavitand" ligands) in coordination chemistry and catalysis. Metallocavitands with coordination sites directed towards the interior of the generic cavity provide interesting systems for studying host-guest complexation processes, their enhanced strength of metal-ion binding allowing for regioselective catalysis in a confined environment, and stabilisation of coordination complexes of unusual forms. Where cavitands have exo-oriented podand arms, the intrinsic dynamics of the cavity can dramatically modify metal chelation behaviour and the catalytic properties of the complexes. Such functionalised cavities are also useful as metal-ion transporters.