Binding of chemical warfare agent simulants as guests in a coordination cage: contributions to binding and a fluorescence-based response

Cubic coordination cages act as competent hosts for several alkyl phosphonates used as chemical warfare agent simulants; a range of cage/guest structures have been determined, contributions to guest binding analysed, and a fluorescent response to guest binding demonstrated. Alkyl phosphonates bind in the cavities of cubic coordination cages via a range of supramolecular interactions and cause a luminescence quenching response.