Selective enclathration of linear alkanols by a self-assembled coordination cage.: Application to the catalytic wacker oxidation of ω-alkenols

Linear alkanols were efficiently enclathrated by a self-assembled cage (1) to give a 1:2 host-guest complex as confirmed by NMR and crystallographic analyses. Cage 1 also enclathrated an omega-alkenol, 8-nonen-1-ol, and, upon heating, Wacker-type oxidation took place with a catalytic amount of 1 to give 9-hydroxynonan-2-one in a good yield.