A High-Symmetry Coordination Cage from 38- or 62-Component Self-Assembly

Artificial molecular architecture from a large number
of subcomponents
(>50) via self-assembly remains a formidable challenge for chemists.
Reaction of 38 components [14 Ni2+ and 24 N-methyl-1-(4-imidazolyl)­methanimine] under solvothermal conditions
reproducibly leads to the formation of a high-symmetry coordination
cage. This polyhedral cage can also be obtained in high yield by self-assembly
of 62 commercially available subcomponents (24 methylamine, 24 4-formylimidazole,
and 14 Ni2+) under mild conditions involving synchronized
formation of both dynamic covalent bonds and coordination bonds. Guest
molecules (e.g., water, methylamine, and methanol) are randomly imprisoned
in the cage.