Silver(I) compounds consisting of [2.2]paracyclophane: reversible guest-driven solid-state transformation and incorporation behavior

Reaction of 2.2]paracyclophane with silver(I) heptafluorobutyrate (AgC3F7CO2) has isolated three novel networks: Ag4(pcp)(C3F7CO2)4] x pyrene (1), Ag4(pcp)(C3F7CO2)4] x phen (phen = phenanthrene) (2), and Ag4(pcp)(C3F7CO2)4] x fluorene (3), and an intercalation compound Ag4(pcp)(C3F7CO2)4] x 2benzene (4). All the four complexes exhibit two-dimensional (2D) sheet structures in which AgC3F7CO2 form an infinite chain and pcp acts as linkage. 1, 2, and 3 show 2D flat sheets with cavities in which guest molecules are situated, whereas 4 exhibits 2D zigzag layers between which guest benzene molecules are intercalated. Pcp shows mu-di-eta1-eta2 coordination mode in 1, mu-tetra-eta1 coordination mode in 2 and 3, and mu-tetra-eta2 coordination mode in 4. The reversible guest exchanges were observed between complex 1, 2, or 3 and intercalation compound 4. It is unprecedented for metal-organic inclusion complexes that the guest exchange occurs where the guest is the solute molecule. Furthermore, 4 can release the guest, and the original framework was completely recovered after reincorporation of benzene. It should be noted that 4 can incorporate pyrene, phen, and fluorene to give 1, 2, and 3, respectively, after desorption.