Metallosupramolecular Cube with Nanometer-sized Cavitiy

Construction of supramolecular architectures with inner cavities is a subject of current interest because of their abilities for selective inclusion of ions and molecules, molecular recognition and catalysis for specific chemical transformations. The potential use of such species largely depends on their cavity size and type, which are mainly controlled by the ligands via appropriate metal ions. A number of such species with inner cavities have been prepared and characterized. Very recently, several metallosupramolecular capsules with enclosure-like systems and very large inner cavities were reported. Herein reported are a stable neutral nanometer-sized metallosupramolecular cube cageNi₆(tpst)₈Cl₁₂] (1) (tpst=2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)sulfanylmethyl]-l,3,5-triazine) with O_h symmetry, which was prepared from assembly reaction of NiCl₂ and the tpst ligand in DMF, andAg₇(tpst)₄(ClO₄)₂(NO₃)₅]_n (2) with a single stranded coordination polymer has been synthesized by self-assembly of silver salt and tpst ligand. Polymer 2 contains nanometer-sized tubes with anion and solvent molecule guests.