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Self-assembly of ten molecules into nanometre-sized organic host frameworks

Abstract

THE synthesis of hollow, nanometrescale molecular "container compounds1,2 makes possible the creation of localized chemical microenvironments with properties different from those of the bulk phases; such compounds can be used, for example, to encapsulate otherwise unstable molecular species3. Container compounds have previously been prepared by conventional chemical synthesis1,2. Here we report the construction of a hollow, roughly spherical supramolecular framework by selfassembly4–8. The framework, which is 2–5 nm in diameter, is constructed from ten species: four organic ligands held together by six metal ions. It has tetrahedral symmetry, and has a large central void, in which guest molecules can be accommodated. We show that four adamantyl carboxylate ions can be encapsulated within this selfassembling cage.

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Fujita, M., Oguro, D., Miyazawa, M. et al. Self-assembly of ten molecules into nanometre-sized organic host frameworks. Nature 378, 469–471 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/378469a0

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