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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
Construction and Systematical Symmetric Studies of a Series of Supramolecular Clusters with Binary or Ternary Ammonium Triphenylacetates
Published on: February 15, 2016
Self-Assembly, Structural Transformation, and Guest-Binding Properties of Supramolecular Assemblies with Triangular
Li-Juan Wang1, Xin Li1, Sha Bai1
1Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Materials Science , Northwest University , Xi'an 710127 , P. R. China.
Abstract:
The properties of supramolecular structures are highly dependent on their metal-centered building blocks and organic linkers, thus the search for novel systems will lead to new functions and applications for these unique assemblies. Here, two discrete triangular trimetallic sandwich building blocks were developed to construct supramolecular assemblies through coordination-driven self-assembly with organosulfur ligands. A series of tubelike (Tr2Pd3)4L6 assemblies (Tr = cycloheptatrienyl ring) were obtained from a discrete triangular tripalladium sandwich complex with bifunctional organosulfur ligands. By replacing the metal centers of the platinum analogue, the self-assembly process resulted in the clean formation of (Tr2Pt3)2L3 triple helicates instead of tubelike species. The trimetallic sandwich building blocks were also shown to form face-capped (Tr2M3)4L4 (M = Pd or Pt) tetrahedral cages when trifunctional organosulfur ligands were used. The supramolecular assemblies were comprehensively analyzed by X-ray crystallography. A metal-cluster-induced structural transformation between (Tr2Pd3)4L4 tubes and (Tr2Pt3)2L3 triple helicates was observed. Furthermore, the face-capped (Tr2Pd3)4L4 cage possesses a tetrahedral cavity allowing the encapsulation of a series of guests.
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