Efficient isonitrile hydration through encapsulation within a hexameric self-assembled capsule and selective inhibition by a photo-controllable competitive guest

Catalytic hydration of neutral isonitriles to yield the corresponding N-formylamides was achieved by reversible encapsulation in a selfassembled hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule. Encapsulation of a photochromic dithienylethene bis-cation provides different levels of competitive inhibition depending on the geometry assumed by the cationic inhibitor.