A C₆₀-Templated Tetrameric Porphyrin Barrel Complex via Zinc-Mediated Self-Assembly Utilizing Labile Capping Ligands

Coordination-driven self-assembly utilizing labile capping ligands has been exploited as a novel strategy for metallo-cage containers. Herein, we report a tetrameric porphyrin barrel complex [C60⊂Zn814(H2O)4(OTs)12]­(OTs)4 (2) (OTs = p-CH3C6H4SO3) formed from a tetrakis­(bipyridyl)­porphyrin ligand 1, Zn­(OTs)2, and a template guest, C60 fullerene. The tetrameric-barrel 2 contains two kinds of bis­(bpy) ZnII centers coordinated by TsO– anions which serve as labile capping ligands in the formation of the finite structure of 2.