Cavitand and Molecular Cage-Based Porous Organic Polymers

Supramolecular cavitands and organic cages having a well-defined cavity and excellent host-guest complexing ability have been explored for a myriad of applications ranging from catalysis to molecular separation to drug delivery. On the other hand, porous organic polymers (POPs) having tunable porosity and a robust network structure have emerged as advanced materials for molecular storage, heterogeneous catalysis, water purification, light harvesting, and energy storage. A fruitful marriage between guest-responsive discrete porous supramolecular hosts and highly porous organic polymers has created a new interface in supramolecular chemistry and materials science, confronting the challenges related to energy and the environment. In this mini-review, we have addressed the recent advances (from 2015 to the middle of 2020) of cavitand and organic cage-based porous organic polymers for sustainable development, including applications in heterogeneous catalysis, CO₂ conversion, micropollutant separation, and heavy metal sequestration from water. We have highlighted the "cavitand/cage-to-framework" design strategy and delineated the future scope of the emerging new class of porous organic networks from "preporous" building blocks.