Electrochemically driven clathration/declathration of ferrocene and its derivatives by a nanometer-sized coordination cage

The electrochemical, NMR, and crystallographic studies clearly indicate that the clathration and declathration of ferrocene and its derivatives in a self-assmbled Pd(II)-linked nanometer-sized cage can be controlled by the oxidation state of the guest. Namely, the guests are clathrated when they are reduced but declathrated when they are oxidized. The process is rapid on the NMR time scale but slow on the CV time scale. Copyright © 2002 American Chemical Society.