Jilin University Team Publishes Breakthrough CB[8] Supramolecular Confinement Self-Sensitized Photooxidation in JACS

A research team led by Professor Wu Guanglu at Jilin University has published groundbreaking work in the Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), a leading international journal. Using a supramolecular confinement strategy with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), the group transforms static heavy-atom effects into an excited-state control mechanism that can be precisely switched via molecular spatial conformations. This approach enables self-sensitized photooxidation without external photosensitizers, paving the way for switchable photocatalysis and the development of stimuli-responsive smart materials.

Research subject: Cucurbit[8]uril (abbreviated as Q[8] or CB[8])

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Challenging the conventional view that the heavy-atom effect is an intrinsic property of substituents, this study leverages the cavity confinement of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) to induce folding in flexible substrates. The spatial conformation enforced by confinement shortens the distance between heavy atoms (Br/I/Cl) and aldehyde groups, converting the heavy-atom effect into an excited-state switch tunable via supramolecular geometry. This enables directional activation of spin-forbidden intersystem crossing (ISC).

Supramolecular Predisposition Promotes Intramolecular Heavy-Atom Effects for Self-Sensitized Oxidation

Li, F.; Sun, Y.; Wu, G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.6c06445.