biostudies-literatureHang XChangjiang Scholar Program of Chinese Ministry of EducationNatural Science Foundation of ChongqingNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNatural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province461-468https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8729796biostudies-literatureUnknown13(2)Ultrafine metal nanoparticles (MNPs) with size <2 nm are of great interest due to their superior catalytic capabilities. Herein, we report the size-controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by using a thiacalixarene-based coordination cage CIAC-108 as a confined host or stabilizer. The Au NPs encapsulated within the cavity of CIAC-108 (Au@CIAC-108) show smaller size (∼1.3 nm) than the ones (∼4.7 nm) anchored on the surface of CIAC-108 (Au/CIAC-108). The cage-embedded Au NPs can be used as a homogeneous catalyst in a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane while as a heterogeneous catalyst in methanol. The homogeneous catalyst Au@CIAC-108-homo exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic activities toward nitroarene reduction and organic dye decomposition, as compared with its largerChemical scienceA coordination cage hosting ultrafine and highly catalytically active gold nanoparticles.PMC8729796U190421521671170cstc2019jcyj-msxmX041921875207Q2018270NSFC-21901222BK20200044Wang SXu QPang HHang XfalseA coordination cage hosting ultrafine and highly catalytically active gold nanoparticles.Ultrafine metal nanoparticles (MNPs) with size <2 nm are of great interest due to their superior catalytic capabilities. Herein, we report the size-controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by using a thiacalixarene-based coordination cage CIAC-108 as a confined host or stabilizer. The Au NPs encapsulated within the cavity of CIAC-108 (Au@CIAC-108) show smaller size (∼1.3 nm) than the ones (∼4.7 nm) anchored on the surface of CIAC-108 (Au/CIAC-108). The cage-embedded Au NPs can be used as a homogeneous catalyst in a mixture of methanol and dichloromethane while as a heterogeneous catalyst in methanol. The homogeneous catalyst Au@CIAC-108-homo exhibits significantly enhanced catalytic activities toward nitroarene reduction and organic dye decomposition, as compared with its larger2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jan2025-04-22T08:31:36.544Z2025-04-05T22:33:37.897ZS-EPMC87297963512697810.1039/d1sc05407d