title: Exploring the symmetry, structure, and self-assembly mechanism of a gigantic seven-fold symmetric {Pd₈₄} wheel.
abstract: The symmetry, structure and formation mechanism of the structurally self-complementary {Pd84} = [Pd84O42(PO4)42(CH3CO2)28](70-) wheel is explored. Not only does the symmetry give rise to a non-closest packed structure, the mechanism of the wheel formation is proposed to depend on the delicate balance between reaction conditions. We achieve the resolution of gigantic polyoxopalladate species through electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography, the latter has been used in conjunction with electrospray mass spectrometry to probe the formation of the ring, which was found to proceed by the stepwise aggregation of {Pd6}(-) = [Pd6O4(CH3CO2)2(PO4)3Na(6-n)H(n)](-) building blocks. Furthermore, the higher-order assembly of these clusters into hollow blackberry structures of around 50 nm has been observed using dynamic and static light scattering.
authors.affiliation: WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QQ (UK) http://www.croninlab.com.
authors.forename: Rachel A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Scullion
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Surman
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mathieson
authors.forename: De-Liang
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Fadi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haso
authors.forename: Tianbo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Leroy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cronin
keywords: palladium; polyoxometalates; self-assembly; size-exclusion chromatography