Discrete {Ni40} Coordination Cage: A Calixarene-Based Johnson-Type (J17) Hexadecahedron

We report a Johnson hexadecahedronal coordination cage, constructed via 10 Ni4-p-tert-butylthiacalix­[4]­arene (Ni4-TC4A) units as vertices and 16 5-(pyridin-4-yl)­isophthalate (PIP) ligands as tiles. It features a gyroelongated square bipyramidal geometry, equivalent to two square pyramids pillared by a square antiprism, a J17 Johnson solid. Remarkably, the cage compound exhibits a much higher uptake capacity of C3H8 than CH4, representing a promising material for separation of these two gases. In contrast, Co4-TC4A units are linked by PIP ligands and rare {Co4O4Cl2} clusters, providing a one-dimensional bamboo stick-like polymer.