Double subroutine self-assembly; spontaneous generation of a nanocyclic dodecanuclear Cu(I) inorganic architecture

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/chem.19970030116

The newly synthesised ligand 2 combines binding components known to undergo specific and distinct self-assembly processes with Cu(I) ions. It complexes Cu(I) to form, in almost quantitative yield, a large inorganic architecture 1 made up from four ligand molecules and twelve metal ions. The structure of 1 was ascertained by X-ray radiocrystallography as well as by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. It consists of a macrocycle of nanometric dimension with an external diameter of 28 A; the central cavity has a diameter of 11 A which contains four PF₆/^- anions as well as solvent molecules. The spontaneous formation of 1 results from a self-assembly process based on a 'program' combining two assembly subroutines, each specific to one of the ligand subunits. Self-assembly through double or, more generally, multipie subroutines can be used to generate a wide variety of highly complex inorganic supramolecular architectures by combination of two or more assembly processes.