A shape-persistent quadruply interlocked giant cage catenane with two distinct pores in the solid state

Area of Science:

• Supramolecular Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Organic Synthesis

Background:

• Discrete interlocked three-dimensional structures are challenging to synthesize using traditional methods.
• Nature utilizes interlocked hollow structures (e.g., in viruses), but synthetic analogues are rare.
• Dynamic covalent chemistry offers a pathway to thermodynamically stable, interlocked products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a synthetic route for creating shape-persistent, interlocked organic cage compounds.
• To achieve nanometer-scale dimensions for these synthetic structures.
• To explore the potential of these structures as novel porous materials.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing dynamic covalent chemistry for bond formation.
• Employing crystallization-induced self-assembly.
• Forming complex structures through the precise formation of 96 covalent bonds.

Main Results:

• High yields of shape-persistent interlocked organic cage compounds were achieved.
• Structures with dimensions in the nanometer regime were successfully synthesized.
• An unprecedented porous material featuring both intrinsic and extrinsic micropores and mesopores was formed.

Conclusions:

• Dynamic covalent chemistry is a powerful tool for constructing complex, discrete interlocked structures.
• The synthesized interlocked cages represent a novel class of porous materials with potential applications.
• This work bridges the gap between natural and synthetic molecular architectures.