Hydrogen-bonded superstructures of a small host molecule and lanthanide aquo ions

Despite containing only relatively small molecular components, the structure of [Eu(H(2)O)(9)](1.5)(CTV)(6)(CH(3)CN)(5.5)(H(2)O)(7.5)[Co(C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)](4.5) (C(191)H(337.5)B(81)Co(4.5)Eu(1.5)N(5.5)O(57), a = 54.590(2) A, b = 37.5788(17) A, c = 31.8067(14) A, beta = 116.573(2) degrees, monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 8) is of an unusually large size and level of complexity, with an intricate hydrogen-bonding network formed between lanthanide aquo ions, water, and the small host molecule cyclotriveratrylene (=CTV). The 3D hydrogen-bonded network structure that results is unique and too complicated to apply the usual topological analysis. Instead a simplified model using structural subunits is described.