Inner-phase stabilization of reactive intermediates

Molecular container compounds are spherical, hollow molecules with inner cavities (inner phases) that are large enough to accommodate a single guest molecule. These inner phases are superb environments for the stabilization and spectroscopic investigation of important reactive intermediates. The surrounding host protects the incarcerated reactive intermediate from dimerization or from a reaction with bulk-phase reactants that are too large to enter the inner phase by passing through a portal in the host shell.