An interwoven metal-organic framework combining mechanically interlocked linkers and interpenetrated networks

New dibenzo[24]crown-8 ether derivatives were prepared that contain appendages with thioether donors that can coordinate to a metal ion. These macrocycles were then combined with 1,2-bis(pyridinium) ethane axles to create two types of [2]rotaxane ligands; those with the four thioether donors on the crown ether and those with six donor groups, four from the crown ether and two more attached to the stoppering groups of the dumbbell. The crown ethers and both types of [2]rotaxane ligands were allowed to react with Ag(I) ions to form metal-organic rotaxane framework (MORF) style coordination polymers. The interlocked hexadentate ligand forms the first example of a new type of lattice containing interwoven frameworks resulting from both interpenetration of frameworks due to the presence of an interlocked ligand and more classical interpenetration of independent frameworks.