A metal-organic molecular box obtained from self-assembling around uranyl ions

摘要

We used the peculiar coordination geometry of uranyl ions to build a three-dimensional superstructure of unprecedented architecture. The complexation of uranyl ions by a monoester derivative of the cis, trans regioisomer of Kemp's triacid and #mu#-peroxo bridges leads to a cagelike molecule with a roughly parallelepipedic inner cavity of ca. 700 A~3 able to host four medium-sized organic molecules.