Flexible Eightfold Interpenetrating Diamondoid Network Generating 1D Channels: Selective Binding with Organic Guests

An 8-fold interpenetrating diamondoid network, [Ni(cyclam)]2[TCM]·2DMF·10H2O, has been prepared by the self-assembly of a Ni(II)cyclam macrocyclic complex and sodium tetrakis[4-(carboxyphenyl)oxamethyl]methane in DMF/water. The network shows an unusual
[4 + 4] mode of interpenetration, generating 1D channels of
effective window size 6.7 Å × 4.7 Å. The network shows flexible
behavior:  it becomes nonporous on removal of the guest molecules
occupying the channels, but the open structure is restored when
the desolvated solid is immersed in the mixture of H2O/DMF (1:1,
v/v) for 5 min. The desolvated host has different binding capacities
for n-butanol, pyridine, and ethanol.