A closed molecular cube and an open book: two different products from assembly of the same metal salt and bridging ligand

摘要

Reaction of the bis-bidentate bridging ligand L-1 with Co(ClO4)(2) or Zn(BF4)(2) affords a mixture of complexes [M-8(L-1)(12)]X-16 and [M-6(L-1)]X-12 having the same metal: ligand ratio: the former is a molecular cube with a metal ion at each vertex and a bridging ligand spanning each edge, whereas the latter has a metal framework like that of an 'open book' containing cross-linked double helical metal-ligand subunits.