A water-soluble Pd₆ coordination cage via multicomponent assembly for visible-light-driven oxidation

We report a water-soluble Pd₆ cage containing a photoactive ligand, obtained through multicomponent self-assembly. The cage selectively oxidizes alkyl aromatics containing 2°/3° C-H bound to aromatic ring under white-light. Due to cavity-controlled selectivity, oxidation of cumene and p-cymene yields acetophenone and 4-methylacetophenone, respectively, in water with recyclability of the cage.