Resorcarene-Based Nanoarchitectures: Metal-Directed Assembly of a Molecular Loop and Tetrahedron

Large cavities and portals are present in the nanoscale molecular architectures formed from dithiocarbamate-functionalized resorcarene ligands and zinc(II) or copper(III) ions. With Zn(II) a molecular loop based on a triangle of resorcarene cups is prepared-the cavity is circular (shown on the left). A molecular cage based on a distorted tetrahedron of four resorcarene ligands assembled by eight Cu(III) ions contains triangular-shaped portals suitable for guest passage (shown on the right).