Hexaphenolic Rigid Cages Prepared by Self-Organization of C3v Tridentates

Coordination cages were composed by self-organization of rigid C3v-symmetric heptaarene tridentates and Pd­(II) precursors. The heptaarene framework involves one mesitylene, three phenol, and three pyridine moieties, which were connected by Suzuki coupling reactions. The treatment of the tridentates with Pd­(dppp)­(OTf)2 or Pd­(en)­(NO3)2 in a 2:3 molar ratio furnished coordination cages, which was ascertained by crystallography, 1H NMR and DOSY measurements, and ESI-TOFMS and UV–vis spectra. The cages have six phenolic hydroxy groups inside and were expected to incorporate hydrogen-bonding guest molecules such as saccharides. CD and DOSY measurements showed that octyl hexoside guests could be incorporated into the cage.