[<i>m</i> × <i>n</i>] Metal Ion Arrays Templated by Coordination Cages

Three-dimensional m × n arrays of metal ion clusters can be assembled as aromatic stacks of planar polynuclear metal complexes within columnar coordination cages. The polynuclear complexes and cage height program the final array structures of the metal ion clusters. Cyclic trinuclear Au(I) complexes (m = 3) assembled into trigonal prismatic arrays (n = 1−3) within the cages and the array structures were clearly shown by X-ray crystallographic analysis. A silver-sandwiched hetero-Au3−Ag−Au3 cluster was also prepared by treating a hexanuclear Au3−Au3 cluster with Ag(I) ion.