Molecules that can’t resist templation

The encapsulation of molecules or ions has captured the interest of a variety of researches, including those using zeolites, fullerenes, micelles, clathrates, and metal coordination complexes. Multiple hemispherical units have been used to create organic cages that can bind guests reversibly or irreversibly. Often such cages will only form in the presence of a guest, which acts as a template. This article summarizes some of the work in this field.