Encapsulation of Homogeneous Catalysts in Porous Polymer Nanocapsules Produces Fast-Acting Selective Nanoreactors.

Nanoreactors were created by entrapping homogeneous catalysts in hollow nanocapsules with 200 nm diameter and semipermeable nanometer-thin shells. The capsules were produced by the polymerization of hydrophobic monomers in the hydrophobic interior of the bilayers of self-assembled surfactant vesicles. Controlled nanopores in the shells of nanocapsules ensured long-term retention of the catalysts coupled with the rapid flow of substrates and products in and out of nanocapsules.