Anion Pairs Template a Trigonal Prism with Disilver Vertices

Here
we describe the formation of a trigonal prismatic cage, utilizing
2-formyl-1,8-naphthyridine subcomponents to bind pairs of silver­(I)
ions in close proximity. This cage is the first example of a new class
of subcomponent self-assembled polyhedral structures having bimetallic
vertices, as opposed to the single metal centers that typically serve
as structural elements within such cages. Our new cage self-assembles
around a pair of anionic templates, which are shown by crystallographic
and solution-phase data to bind within the central cavity of the structure.
Many different anions serve as competent templates and guests. Elongated
dianions, such as the strong oxidizing agent peroxysulfate, also serve
to template and bind within the cavity of the prism. The principle
of using subcomponents that have more than one spatially close, but
nonchelating, binding site may thus allow access to other higher-order
structures with multimetallic vertices.