Research

Catalysis

We scrutinize the reactivity of chemical species within confined environments, with a primary emphasis on intra- and intermolecular voids. Our approach is underpinned by the philosophy of constructing complex multifunctional systems through self-assembly using elementary components. We explore macrocyclic cavities and nanoparticle ligand shells in search of new reactivity and selectivity.

 

Our research unveils enzyme-like features such as:

  • autocatalysis

 

 

 

Sashuk, V., Butkiewicz, H., FiaƂkowski, M., Danylyuk, O. Triggering autocatalytic reaction by host-guest interactions. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 4191-4194.

 

  • simultaneous positive and negative catalysis

 

 

Rad, N., Danylyuk, O., Sashuk, V. Reversing Chemoselectivity: Simultaneous Positive and Negative Catalysis by Chemically Equivalent Rims of Cucurbit[7]uril Host.

Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 11340-11343.

 

  • (un)competitive inhibition

 

 

 

Rad, N., Sashuk, V. A light-gated regulation of the reaction site by a cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle. Chem. Sci. 2022, 13, 12440-12444.

 

 

Rad, N., Sashuk, V. Effect of Na+ and K+ on the cucurbituril-mediated hydrolysis of a phenyl acetate. Chem. Commun. 2022, 58, 5249-5252.

 

  • catalysis regulation

 

 

 

Szewczyk, M., Sobczak, G., Sashuk, V. Photoswitchable Catalysis by a Small Swinging Molecule Confined on the Surface of a Colloidal Particle. ACS Catal. 2018, 8, 2810-2814.

 

Kravets, M., Flaibani, M., Szewczyk, M, Posocco, P., Sashuk, V. Pursuing the Complete OFF State in Photoswitchable Catalysis. ACS Catal. 2023, 13, 15967-15976.

 

 

Sashuk, V., Danylyuk, O. A Thermo- and Photo-Switchable Ruthenium Initiator For Olefin Metathesis. Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 6528-6531.