Executive Summary : | The proposal is mainly aimed to design and development of a few novel covalent bicyclic molecular cages, enriched with both H-bond donor sites as well as metal coordination sites. The cages would be useful as receptors for harmful oxyanions as well as potential ligand systems for metal ion coordination. The geometric and electrostatic complimentarities will determine the selectivity of anions, whereas, primary coordination sphere of the macrobicyclic cages will regulate the metal complex(es) formation. Main idea is to carry out recognition of oxyanions and activation of those anions together inside a confined space of the proposed molecules and hence, to develop new generation bio-inspired catalytic systems containing low valent transition metal centers. The systems are expected to be capable of reducing harmful oxyanions to benign products under mild reaction conditions. The role of secondary coordination sphere (in this case H-bonding sites) as seen in metalloenzymes will govern the feasibility of the advancement of catalytic reduction/deoxygenation. The study on the mechanistic detail will be in line with biological catalyst. The flexibility and cavity of the cages in stabilizing high-valent intermediates will be explored with an aim to address fundamental questions of relevance to chemistry and biology. Further, investigation on reduction of oxyanions in aqueous–organic/water medium will be an alternative gateway for polluted water remediation. |