Templated assembly of water-soluble nano-capsules: inter-phase sequestration, storage, and separation of hydrocarbon gases.

In aqueous solution, a deep-cavity cavitand was shown to self-assemble into dimeric nano-capsules via the sequestration of gaseous-phase hydrocarbons. The sequestration, assembly, and entrapment process was shown to be dependent on the hydrocarbon. Thus, by way of example, butane could be selectively sequestered from a propane-butane mixture.