title: A Pd24 Pregnant Molecular Nanoball: Self-Templated Stellation by Precise Mapping of Coordination Sites.
abstract: We found that Pd(II) ion (M) and the smallest 120° bidentate donor pyrimidine (L(a)) self-assemble into a mononuclear M(L(a))4 complex (1a) instead of the expected smallest M12(L(a))24 molecular ball (1), presumably due to the weak coordination nature of the pyrimidine. To construct such a pyrimidine bridged nanoball, we employed a new donor tris(4-(pyrimidin-5-yl)phenyl)amine (L); which upon selective complexation with Pd(II) ions resulted in the formation of a pregnant M24L24 molecular nanoball (2) consisting of a pyrimidine-bridged Pd12 baby-ball supported by a Pd12 larger mother-ball. The formation of the baby-ball was not successful without the support of the mother-ball. Thus, we created an example of a self-assembly where the inner baby-ball resembling to the predicted M12(L(a))24 ball (1) was incarcerated by the giant outer mother-ball by means of geometrical constraints. Facile conversion of the pregnant ball 2 to a smaller M12(L(b))24 ball 3 with dipyridyl donor was achieved in a single step.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Imtiyaz Ahmad
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Dipak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Samanta
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Partha Sarathi
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
mesh_terms: D056831:Coordination Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010165:Palladium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056831:Coordination Complexes; D008024:Ligands; D011743:Pyrimidines; D010165:Palladium; C030986:pyrimidine