Competitive Molecular‐/Ion‐Recognition Responsive Characteristics of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐benzo‐12‐crown‐4‐acrylamide) Copolymers with Benzo‐12‐crown‐4 as Both Guest and Host Units

Novel dual molecular‐ and ion‐recognition responsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐benzo‐12‐crown‐4‐acrylamide) (PNB₁₂C₄) linear copolymers with benzo‐12‐crown‐4 (B12C4) as both guest and host units are prepared. The copolymers exhibit highly selective sensitivities toward γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD) and Na⁺. The presence of γ‐CD induces the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNB₁₂C₄ copolymer to shift to a higher value due to the formation of 1:1 γ‐CD/B12C4 host‐guest inclusion complexes, while Na⁺ causes a negative shift in LCST due to the formation of 2:1 “sandwich” B12C4/Na⁺ host‐guest complexes. Regardless of the complexation order, when γ‐CD and Na⁺ coexist with PNB₁₂C₄, competitive complexation actions of B12C4 as both guest and host units toward γ‐CD and Na⁺ finally form equilibrium 2:2:1 γ‐CD/B12C4/Na⁺ composite complexes, and the final LCST values of PNB₁₂C₄ copolymer reach almost the same level. The results provide valuable guidance for designing and applying PNB₁₂C₄‐based smart materials in various applications.

     

Tetrathiafulvalene‐Based Macrocycles Formed by Radical Cation Dimerization: The Role of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding and Solvent

Compounds 1 a and 1 b were prepared by appending two tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units to an aromatic amide segment that is driven by six or two intramolecular N? H???O hydrogen bonds to adopt a folded conformation. UV/Vis absorption experiments revealed that if the TTF units were oxidized to TTF^.+ radical cations, the two compounds could form a stable single molecular noncovalent macrocycle in less polar dichloromethane or dichloroethane or a bimolecular noncovalent macrocycle in a binary mixture of dichloromethane with a more polar solvent owing to remarkably enhanced dimerization of the TTF^.+ units. The stability of the (TTF^.+)₂ dimer was evaluated through UV/Vis absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and cyclic voltammetry experiments and also by comparing the results with those of control compound 2 . The results showed that introduction of the intramolecular hydrogen bonds played a crucial role in promoting the stability of the (TTF^.+)₂ dimer and thus the noncovalent macrocyclization of the two backbones in both uni‐ and bimolecular manners.     

Supramacromolecular chemistry: Self‐assembly of polystyrene‐based multi‐armed pseudorotaxane star polymers from multi‐topic C60 derivatives

Multitopic dibenzylammonium derivatives ( 4 ) of C₆₀ were prepared by Bingel reactions of C₆₀ with a malonate diester ( 2 ) containing two t‐BOC protected dibenzylamine moieties, followed by deprotection and protonation. Self‐assembly of model pseudorotaxanes 5 from the multidibenzylammonium C₆₀ derivatives with dibenzo‐24‐crown‐8 was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Self‐assembly of linear and star‐shaped pseudorotaxanes 8 with up to 12 arms based on polystyrenes bearing terminal DB24C8 host units ( 7 ) and the guest functionalized C₆₀ salts was demonstrated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and solution phase viscometry. These studies provide further evidence of the potential of supramacromolecular chemistry in construction of complex polymeric architectures. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6472–6495, 2009     

A Study of the Interaction Between Cucurbit[8]uril and Alkyl‐Substituted 4‐Pyrrolidinopyridinium Salts

The interaction between cucuribit[8]uril (Q[8]) and a series of 4‐pyrrolidinopyridinium salts bearing aliphatic substituents at the pyridinium nitrogen, namely 4‐(C₄H₈N)C₅H₅NRBr, where R=Et (g1), n‐butyl (g2), n‐pentyl (g3), n‐hexyl (g4), n‐octyl (g5), n‐dodecyl (g6), has been studied in aqueous solution by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and mass spectrometry. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction revealed the structure of the host–guest complexes for g1, g2, g3, and g5. In each case, the Q[8] contains two guest molecules in a centrosymmetric dimer. The orientation of the guest molecule changes as the alkyl chain increases in length. Interestingly, in the solid state, the inclusion complexes identified are different from those observed in solution, and furthermore, in the case of g3, Q[8] exhibits two different interactions with the guest. In solution, the length of the alkyl chain plays a significant role in determining the type of host–guest interaction present.     

A Macrocycle Based on a Heptagon‐Containing Hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene

A cyclophane is reported incorporating two units of a heptagon‐containing extended polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analogue of the hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (HBC) moiety (hept‐HBC). This cyclophane represents a new class of macrocyclic structures that incorporate for the first time seven‐membered rings within extended PAH frameworks. The saddle curvature of the hept‐HBC macrocycle units induced by the presence of the nonhexagonal ring along with the flexible alkyl linkers generate a cavity with shape complementarity and appropriate size to enable π interactions with fullerenes. Therefore, the cyclophane forms host–guest complexes with C₆₀ and C₇₀ with estimated binding constants of K_a=420±2 m ^?1 and K_a=(6.49±0.23)×10³ m ^?1, respectively. As a result, the macrocycle can selectively bind C₇₀ in the presence of an excess of a mixture of C₆₀ and C₇₀.     

A Five‐layer π‐Aromatic Structure Formed through Self‐assembly of a Porphyrin Trimer and Two Aromatic Guests

In this study we synthesized two‐ and four‐armed porphyrins – bearing two carboxyl and four 2‐aminoquinolino functionalities, respectively, at their meso positions – as a complementary hydrogen bonding pair for the self‐assembly of a D₂‐symmetric porphyrin trimer host. Two units of the two‐armed porphyrin and one unit of the four‐armed porphyrin self‐assembled quantitatively into the D₂‐symmetric porphyrin trimer, stabilized through ammidinium‐carboxylate salt bridge formation, in CH₂Cl₂ and CHCl₃. The porphyrin trimer host gradually bound two units of 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene between the pair of porphyrin units, forming a five‐layer aromatic structure. At temperatures below ?40 °C, the rates of association and dissociation of the complexes were slow on the NMR spectroscopic time scale, allowing the 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 complexes of the trimer host and trinitrobenzene guest(s) to be detected independently when using less than 2 eq of trinitrobenzene. Vis titration experiments revealed the values of K₁ (2.1±0.4×10⁵ M^?1) and K₂ (2.2±0.06×10⁴ M^?1) in CHCl₃ at room temperature.     

Supramolecular Graft Copolymerization of a Polyester by Guest‐Selective Encapsulation of a Self‐Assembled Capsule

Repeating guest units of polyesters poly‐(R )‐ 2 were selectively encapsulated by capsule 1 (BF₄)₄ to produce supramolecular graft polymers. The encapsulation of the guest units was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The graft polymer structures were confirmed by the increase in the hydrodynamic radii and the solution viscosities of the polyesters upon complexation of the capsule. After the capsule was formed, atomic force microscopy showed extension of the polyester chains. The introduction of the graft chains onto poly‐(R )‐ 2 resulted in the main chain of the polymer having an M ‐helical morphology. The complexation of copolymers poly‐[(R )‐ 2 ‐co ‐(S )‐ 2 ] by the capsule gave rise to the unique chiral amplification known as the majority‐rules effect.     

Ineffective OH Pinning of the Flipping Dynamics of a Spherical Guest within a Tight‐Fitting Tube

A supramolecular/synthetic method has been devised to affix a sterically hindered substituent onto a fullerene guest encapsulated in a tubular host. A two‐wheeled complex of (C₅₉N)‐(C₅₉N) with a tubular host was oxidatively bisected to afford a C₅₉N⁺ cation captured in the tube. The C₅₉N⁺ cation in the tube was then trapped by ethanol or water, which led to an oxy substituent pinned on the guest. The guest motions within the tube were modulated by the pinned substituent, and up‐and‐down flipping motions were halted by an ethoxy substituent. A hydroxy substituent, however, was ineffective in halting the flipping motions, despite the tight‐fitting relationship between the tubular host and the spherical guest. Theoretical calculations of the dynamics revealed that the flipping motions were assisted by OH‐π hydrogen bonds between the guest and the carbon‐rich wall and that sliding motions of the OH group were also facilitated by deformations of the tube.     

A two‐dimensional network formed by self‐associating silver(I) perchlorate with 3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile

In the organometallic silver(I) supramolecular complex poly[[silver(I)‐μ₃‐3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile] perchlorate methanol solvate], {[Ag(C₁₈H₁₁N₃S)](ClO₄)·CH₃OH}_n, there is only one type of Ag^I center, which lies in an {AgN₂Sπ} coordination environment. Two unsymmetric multidentate 3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile (L) ligands link two Ag^I atoms through π–Ag^I interactions into an organometallic box‐like unit, from which two 3‐cyanobenzoyl arms stretch out in opposite directions and bind two Ag^I atoms from neighboring box‐like building blocks. This results in a novel two‐dimensional network extending in the crystallographic bc plane. These two‐dimensional sheets stack together along the crystallographic a axis to generate parallelogram‐like channels. The methanol solvent molecules and the perchlorate counter‐ions are located in the channels, where they are fixed by intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This architecture may provide opportunities for host–guest chemistry, such as guest molecule loss and absorption or ion exchange. The new fulvene‐type multidentate ligand L is a good candidate for the preparation of Cp–Ag^I‐containing (Cp is cyclopentadienyl) organometallic coordination polymers or supramolecular complexes.     

From Packed “Sandwich” to “Russian Doll”: Assembly by Charge‐Transfer Interactions in Cucurbit[10]uril

As the host possessing the largest cavity in the cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) family, CB[10] has previously displayed unusual recognition and assembly properties with guests but much remains to be explored. Herein, we present the recognition properties of CB[10] toward a series of bipyridinium guests including the tetracationic cyclophane known as blue box along with electron‐rich guests and detail the influence of encapsulation on the charge‐transfer interactions between guests. For the mono‐bipyridinium guest (methylviologen, MV ²⁺), CB[10] not only forms 1:1 and 1:2 inclusion complexes, but also enhances the charge‐transfer interactions between methylviologen and dihydroxynaphthalene ( HN ) by mainly forming the 1:2:1 packed “sandwich” complex (CB[10] ? 2 MV ²⁺ ?HN ). For guest 1 with two bipyridinium units, an interesting conformational switching from linear to “U” shape is observed by adding catechol to the solution of CB[10] and the guest. For the tetracationic cyclophane‐blue box, CB[10] forms a stable 1:1 inclusion complex; the two bipyridinium units tilt inside the cavity of CB[10] according to the X‐ray crystal structure. Finally, a supramolecular “Russian doll” was built up by threading a guest through the cavities of both blue box and CB[10].     

Phosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes using an iridium complex polymer as the solution‐processible host material

We prepared an iridium polymer complex having 2‐phenylpyridine as a η²‐cyclometallated ligand, a new OLED containing a solution‐processible iridium polymer as a host, and a phosphorescent iridium complex, [Ir(piq‐^tBu)₃] as a guest. This is the first example to apply a phosphorescent iridium complex polymer to a host material in a phosphorescent OLED. A phosphine copolymer ligand made from methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 4‐styryldiphenylphosphine can be used as an anchor polymer, which coordinates to luminescent iridium units to form a host metallopolymer easily. The OLED containing the host iridium‐complex polymer film, in which the guest, 2 wt % Ir(piq‐^tBu)₃, was doped, showed red electroluminescence as a result of efficient energy transfer from the iridium polymer host to the iridium guest. The maximum current efficiency of the device was 1.00, suggesting that a soluble iridium complex polymer can be used as a solution‐processible polymer host in EL devices. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4358–4365, 2009     

Tetrathiafulvalene–Oligo(para‐phenyleneethynylene) Conjugates: Formation of Multiple Mixed‐Valence Complexes upon Electrochemical Oxidation

Short monodisperse oligo‐ (para‐phenyleneethynylene) (pOPE) units bearing laterally attached tetrathio‐substituted tetrathiofulvalene (TTF) units have been synthesised from functionalised aromatic building blocks by using the Sonogashira cross‐coupling methodology. The unusual redox properties of these TTF–pOPE conjugates were observed by employing electrochemical methods, such as cyclic voltammetry and exhaustive electrolysis. We found that formally one half of the TTF units in the pOPE monomer 1 , dimer 2 , and trimer 3 (with 2, 4, and 6 TTF units, respectively) are electrochemically silent during the first‐step oxidation at 0.49 V. We propose the formation of persistent mixed‐valence complexes from the TTF and TTF^+. units present in an equal ratio. Such mixed‐valence dyads (single or multiple in the partially oxidised 1 – 3 ) exhibit an unusual stability towards oxidation until the potential of the second oxidation at 0.84 V is achieved. This finding suggests that below this potential the oxidation of the respective mix‐valence complexes is extremely slow.     

An Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Exhibiting Electrical Conduction and Single‐Ion Magnetism

The first three‐dimensional (3D) conductive single‐ion magnet (SIM), (TTF)₂[Co(pdms)₂] (TTF=tetrathiafulvalene and H₂pdms=1,2‐bis(methanesulfonamido)benzene), was electrochemically synthesised and investigated structurally, physically, and theoretically. The similar oxidation potentials of neutral TTF and the molecular precursor [HNEt₃]₂[M(pdms)₂] (M=Co, Zn) allow for multiple charge transfers (CTs) between the SIM donor [M(pdms)₂]^n? and the TTF^.+ acceptor, as well as an intradonor CT from the pdms ligand to Co ion upon electrocrystallisation. Usually TTF functions as a donor, whereas in our system TTF is both a donor and an accepter because of the similar oxidation potentials. Furthermore, the [M(pdms)₂]^n? donor and TTF^.+ acceptor are not segregated but strongly interact with each other, contrary to reported layered donor–acceptor electrical conductors. The strong intermolecular and intramolecular interactions, combined with CT, allow for relatively high electrical conductivity even down to very low temperatures. Furthermore, SIM behaviour with slow magnetic relaxation and opening of hysteresis loops was observed. (TTF)₂[Co(pdms)₂] ( 2‐Co ) is an excellent building block for preparing new conductive SIMs.     

Exploring the structural landscape of 2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole: high‐Z′ packing polymorphism and cocrystallization with calix[4]tube

We report here for the first time a cocrystal of the so‐called neutral calix[4]tube, which is two tail‐to‐tail‐arranged and partially deprotonated tetrakis(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arenes, including three sodium ions, with 2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole, namely trisodium bis(carboxymethoxy)bis(carboxylatomethoxy)calix[4]arene tris(carboxymethoxy)(carboxylatomethoxy)calix[4]arene–2‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐benzothiazole–dimethyl sulfoxide–water (1/1/2/2), 3Na⁺·C₃₆H₃₀O₁₂^2?·C₃₆H₃₁O₁₂^?·C₁₁H₇NS₂·2C₂H₆OS·2H₂O, which provides a new approach into the host–guest chemistry of inclusion complexes. Three packing polymorphs of the same benzothiazole with high Z′ (one with Z′ = 8 and two with Z′ = 4) were also discovered in the course of our desired cocrystallization. The inspection of these polymorphs and a previously known polymorph with Z′ = 2 revealed that Z′ increases as the strength of intermolecular contacts decreases. Also, these results expand the frontier of invoking calixarenes as a host for nonsolvent small molecules, besides providing knowledge on the rare formation of high‐Z′ packing polymorphs of simple molecules, such as the target benzothiazole.     

A novel one‐dimensional double‐chain‐like ZnII coordination polymer: poly[bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN3)tris(μ‐cyanido‐κ2C:N)(cyanido‐κC)disilver(I)zinc(II)]

One of most interesting systems of coordination polymers constructed from the first‐row transition metals is the porous Zn^II coordination polymer system, but the numbers of such polymers containing N‐donor linkers are still limited. The title double‐chain‐like Zn^II coordination polymer, [Ag₂Zn(CN)₄(C₁₀H₁₀N₂)₂]_n, presents a one‐dimensional linear coordination polymer structure in which Zn^II ions are linked by bridging anionic dicyanidoargentate(I) units along the crystallographic b axis and each Zn^II ion is additionally coordinated by a terminal dicyanidoargentate(I) unit and two terminal 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole (BZI) ligands, giving a five‐coordinated Zn^II ion. Interestingly, there are strong intermolecular Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between terminal and bridging dicyanidoargentate(I) units and C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands of adjacent one‐dimensional linear chains, providing a one‐dimensional linear double‐chain‐like structure. The supramolecular three‐dimensional framework is stabilized by C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands and by Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between adjacent double chains. The photoluminescence properties have been studied.     

Synthesis of zincic phthalocyanine derivative functionalized with four peripheral tetrathiafulvalene units

A zincic phthalocyanine (Pc) derivative functionalized with four peripheral substituted tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) units has been synthesized. The intermediates and target compound have been characterized by ¹H‐nmr, ¹³C‐nmr, ms, EA, uv‐vis and mp. The molecular weight of H₂Pc‐TTF₄ can not be found in mass spectra. ¹H‐nmr spectra and mp determination show both H₂PC‐TTF₄ and ZnPc‐TTF₄ are isomer‐mixtures. Uv‐vis spectra indicate that the aggregation of H₂PC‐TTF₄ is solvent dependent and the introduction of Zn atom affects the solubility of the assembly.     

Highly Efficient Chirality Transfer from Diamines Encapsulated within a Self‐Assembled Calixarene–Salen Host

A calix[4]arene host equipped with two bis‐[Zn(salphen)] complexes self‐assembles into a capsular complex in the presence of a chiral diamine guest with an unexpected 2:1 ratio between the host and the guest. Effective chirality transfer from the diamine to the calix–salen hybrid host is observed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and a high stability constant K_2,1 of 1.59×10¹¹ M ^?2 for the assembled host–guest ensemble has been determined with a substantial cooperativity factor α of 6.4. Density functional calculations are used to investigate the origin of the stability of the host–guest system and the experimental CD spectrum compared with those calculated for both possible diastereoisomers showing that the M,M isomer is the one that is preferentially formed. The current system holds promise for the chirality determination of diamines, as evidenced by the investigated substrate scope and the linear relationship between the ee of the diamine and the amplitude of the observed Cotton effects.     

Guest‐Directed Supramolecular Architectures of {W36} Polyoxometalate Crowns

The {W₃₆} isopolyoxotungstate cluster provides a stable inorganic molecular platform for the binding of inorganic and organic guest molecules. This is achieved by a binding pocket formed by six terminal oxo ligands located in the central cavity of the all‐inorganic cation binding host. Previously it was shown that the cluster can specifically bind primary amines and importantly, functionalized diamines through a combination of electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. Here we transform this assembly strategy to utilize the binding of long‐chain alkyldiammonium guest cations to physically define the supramolecular structure of the clusters with respect to each other and demonstrate the structure direction as a function of alkyl chain length. The systematic variation of the chain length gives access to five supramolecular assemblies which were all fully characterized using single crystal XRD, TGA, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis. In compound 1 , diprotonated 1,8‐diaminooctane molecules link the {W₃₆} clusters into infinite 1D zigzag chains, whereas compounds 2 and 3 feature trimeric {W₃₆} assemblies directly connected through protonated 1,9‐diaminononane ( 2 ) or 1,10‐diaminodecane ( 3 ) linkers . Compound 4 contains dumb‐bell shaped dimeric units as a result of direct center‐to‐center linkages between the {W₃₆} clusters formed by protonated 1,12‐diaminododecane. In compound 5 , triply protonated bis(hexamethylene)triamine was employed to obtain linear 1D chains of directly connected {W₃₆} cluster units.     

Chiral Supramolecular Switches Based on (R)‐Binaphthalene–Bipyridinium Guests and Cucurbituril Hosts

We designed and synthesized the three molecular tweezers 1 a – c ⁴⁺ containing an electron acceptor 4,4′‐bipyridinium (BPY²⁺) unit in each of the two arms and an (R)‐2,2′‐dioxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (BIN) unit that plays the role of chiral centre and the hinge of the structure. Each BPY²⁺ unit is connected to the BIN hinge by an alkyl chain formed by two‐ ( 1 a ⁴⁺), four‐ ( 1 b ⁴⁺), or six‐CH₂ ( 1 c ⁴⁺) groups. The behavior of 1 a – c ⁴⁺ upon chemical or photochemical reduction in the absence and in the presence of cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) or cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as macrocyclic hosts for the bipyridinium units has been studied in aqueous solution. A detailed analysis of the UV/Vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectra shows that the helicity of the BIN unit can be reversibly modulated by reduction of the BPY²⁺ units, or by association with cucurbiturils. Upon reduction of 1 a – c ⁴⁺ compounds, the formed BPY^{+ .} units undergo intramolecular dimerization with a concomitant change in the BIN dihedral angle, which depends on the length of the alkyl spacers. The alkyl linkers also play an important role in association to cucurbiturils. Compound 1 a ⁴⁺, because of its short carbon chain, associates to the bulky CB[8] in a 1:1 ratio, whereas in the case of the smaller host compound CB[7] a 1:2 complex is obtained. Compounds 1 b ⁴⁺ and 1 c ⁴⁺, which have longer linkers, associate to two cucurbiturils regardless of their sizes. In all cases, association with CB[8] causes an increase of the BIN dihedral angle, whereas the formation of CB[7] complexes causes an angle decrease. Reduction of the CB[8] complexes results in an enhancement of the BPY^{+ .} dimerization with respect to free 1 a – c ⁴⁺ and causes a noticeable decrease of the BIN dihedral angle, because the BPY^{+ .} units of the two arms have to enter into the same macrocycle. The dimer formation in the CB[8] complexes characterized by a 1:2 ratio implies the release of one macrocycle showing that the binding stoichiometry of these host–guest complexes can be switched from 1:2 to 1:1 by changing the redox state of the guest. When the reduction is performed on the CB[7] complexes, dimer formation is totally inhibited, as expected because the CB[7] cavity cannot host two BPY^{+ .} units.     

Adsorption behaviour of a CdII–triazole MOF for butan‐2‐one in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) fashion: the role of hydrogen bonding and C—H…π interactions

The adsorption behaviour of the Cd^II–MOF {[Cd(L)₂(ClO₄)₂]·H₂O ( 1 ), where L is 4‐amino‐3,5‐bis[3‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenyl]‐1,2,4‐triazole, for butan‐2‐one was investigated in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) fashion. A new host–guest system that encapsulated butan‐2‐one molecules, namely poly[[bis{μ₃‐4‐amino‐3,5‐bis[3‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)phenyl]‐1,2,4‐triazole}cadmium(II)] bis(perchlorate) butanone sesquisolvate], {[Cd(C₂₄H₁₈N₆)₂](ClO₄)₂·1.5C₄H₈O}_n, denoted C₄H₈O@Cd‐MOF ( 2 ), was obtained via an SCSC transformation. MOF 2 crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P4₃2₁2. The specific binding sites for butan‐2‐one in the host were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. N—H…O and C—H…O hydrogen‐bonding interactions and C—H…π interactions between the framework, ClO₄^? anions and guest molecules co‐operatively bind 1.5 butan‐2‐one molecules within the channels. The adsorption behaviour was further evidenced by ¹H NMR, IR, TGA and powder X‐ray diffraction experiments, which are consistent with the single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. A ¹H NMR experiment demonstrates that the supramolecular interactions between the framework, ClO₄^? anions and guest molecules in MOF 2 lead to a high butan‐2‐one uptake in the channel.