The Dimeric “Hand-Shake” Motif in Complexes and Metallo-Supramolecular Assemblies of Cyclotriveratrylene-Based Ligands

A series of clathrate and metal complexes with cyclotriveratrylene-like molecular host ligands show a similar dimeric homomeric inclusion motif in which a ligand arm of one host is the intra-cavity guest of another and vice versa. This hand-shake motif is found in the trinuclear transition metal complex [Cu3Cl6(1)]CH3CN1.5 H2O in which 1 is tris(4-[2,2,6,2-terpyridyl]benzyl)cyclotriguaiacylene; in the self-included M4L4 tetrahedral metallo-supramolecular assembly [Ag4(2)4] (BF4)4 in which 2 is tris-(2-quinolylmethyl)cyclotriguaiacylene; in the 1D coordination chains [Ag(4)]ReO4 CH3CN and [Ag(5)]SbF63 DMFH2O in which 4 is tris(1H-imidazol-1-yl)cyclotriguaiacylene and 5 is tris{4-(2-pyridyl)benzyl}cyclotriguaiacylene; and in the acetone clathrate of tris{4-(2-pyridyl)benzyl-amino}cyclotriguaiacylene. Clathrates of ligands 2 and 5 do not show the same dimeric motif, although 2 has an extended homomeric inclusion motif that gives a hexagonal network