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Author Spotlight: Exploring Self-Assembled MOF-Polymer Composites
Published on: June 14, 2024
Hierarchical, Template-Controlled Self-Assembly of Two Different Organometallic Capsules from a Tetrakisimidazolium
Yang Li1, Xue-Ting Chang1, Le Zhang1
1Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, Xi'an Key Laboratory of Functional Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710127, China.
Abstract:
Controlling the assembly of molecular nanocapsules through metal-carbon bonds constitutes a major challenge in the field of supramolecular organometallic chemistry. Here, we demonstrate the construction of two nanosized dodecanuclear organometallic capsules, [{Ag(CH3CN)4(BF4)8}⊂Ag12(1)6](BF4)5 and [(CF3SO3)8⊂Ag12(1)6](CF3SO3)4 from the calix[4]resorcinarene-based tetrakisimidazolium salts H4-1(X)4 and AgI ions employing the metal-carbene directed self-assembly and hierarchical template strategies. An [Ag(CH3CH)4(BF4)8]7- anion or eight triflate anions served as templates. The dodecanuclear capsules are the largest poly-NHC-derived assemblies known so far. Salt H4-1(SbF6)4 reacts with Ag2O to give the tetranuclear assembly [(SbF6)⊂Ag4(1)2](SbF6)3 featuring an encapsulated SbF6 - anion. Transmetalation of the tetra-NHC ligands from silver to gold yielded in all cases tetranuclear assemblies of type [Au4(1)2]X4.
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