Cation-Controlled Self-Assembly of a Hexameric Europium Wheel

The simple asymmetric tetradentate ligand 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine-6-carboxylic acid leads to the self-assembly of the first europium nanowheel containing europium ions in two different coordination environments. Moreover the self-assembly of bis(terpyridinecarboxylate) europium species to form a hexameric wheel capable of strongly binding LnIII cations is controlled by the ligand/cation ratio.