title: Formation of a strandlike polycatenane of icosahedral cages for reversible one-dimensional encapsulation of guests.
abstract: Self-assembly of ZnCl(2) and the ligand 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)pyridine (pytpy) in solution yields [(ZnCl(2))(12)(pytpy)(8)](n)·xCHCl(3), a polycatenane consisting of a strand of mechanically interlocking icosahedral cages with an inner volume of more than 2700 Å(3). This can be used to encapsulate guest molecules of appropriate size and polarity, forming a precisely defined three-dimensional array of solvent nanodroplets within the crystalline framework. The dynamic composition of these droplets was studied using quantitative solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Chemie and Wissenschaftliches Zentrum für Materialwissenschaften (WZMW), Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans Meerwein Strasse, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmedt auf der Günne
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dehnen