title: Chemical bonding in supermolecular flowers.
abstract: We report here a systematic study on the ability of molecular cages to bind (transition) metals. Starting from the superferrocenophane we investigate the incorporation of first-row transition metal (Sc-Zn) and alkaline-earth metal (Mg, Ca) double cations into these supermetallocenophane (super[5]phane) cages, and compare them with the corresponding metallocenes (Inorg. Chim. Acta, 2007, 360, 179). Moreover, we also investigate the binding of neutral and double-cationic metals inside supermetallocyclophane (super[6]phane) cages. The heterolytic and homolytic associations show preferences for different metals, and new metal-containing cages are proposed that should be viable candidates for synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta s/n, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, C.P. 36050, México.
authors.forename: Abril C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Mikael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swart