title: From {Au(I)···Au(I)}-coupled cages to the cage-built 2-D {Au(I)···Au(I)} arrays: Au(I)···Au(I) bonding interaction driven self-assembly and their Ag(I) sensing and photo-switchable behavior.
abstract: Metal-metal bonding interactions have been used to generate a number of unique supramolecular assemblies with fascinating functions. We presented here a new class of gold(I)-containing metallosupramolecular cages and cage-built two-dimensional (2-D) arrays of {Au8L2}n (n = 1 or ∞, L = tetrakis-dithiocarbamato-calix[4]arene, TDCC), 1-3, which are constructed from the self-assembly of deep-cavitand calix[4]arene-based supramolecular cages consisting of octanuclear Au(I) motifs. Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction structural analyses of 1-3 revealed their quadruple-stranded helicate dimeric cage structure and the presence of 2-D arrays of cages linked together by inter- and intramolecular Au(I)···Au(I) interactions. Electronic absorption and emission studies of complexes 1-3 indicated the occurrence of a programmable self-assembly process in a concentration-dependent stepwise manner with the links built via aurophilic interactions. These novel gold(I) supramolecular cages exhibited green phosphorescence and have been shown to serve as highly selective proof-of-concept luminescent sensors toward Ag(I) cation among various competitive transition-metal ions.
authors: Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Industry, College of Environmental and Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology , Beijing 100124, P. R. China.
authors: Xuan-Feng
authors: XF
authors: Jiang
authors: Franky Ka-Wah
authors: FK
authors: Hau
authors: Qing-Fu
authors: QF
authors: Sun
authors: Shu-Yan
authors: SY
authors: Yu
authors: Vivian Wing-Wah
authors: VW
authors: Yam