The Dimeric "Hand-Shake" Motif in Complexes and Metallo-Supramolecular Assemblies of Cyclotriveratrylene-Based Ligands

A series of clathrate and metal complexes with cyclotriveratrylene-like molecular host ligands show a similar dimeric homomeric inclusion motif in which a ligand arm of one host is the intra-cavity guest of another and vice versa. This "hand-shake" motif is found in the trinuclear transition metal complex [Cu3Cl6(1)]center dot CH3CN center dot 1.5H(2)O which 1 is tris(4-[2,2',6',2 ''-terpyridyl]benzyl)cyclotriguaiacylene; in the self-included M4L4 tetrahedral metallo-supramolecular assembly [Ag-4(2)(4)]center dot(BF4)(4) in which 2 is tris-(2-quinolyl-methyl)cyclotriguaiacylene; in the 1D coordination chains [Ag(4)]center dot ReO4 center dot CH3CN and [Ag(5)]center dot SbF6 center dot 3DMF center dot H2O in which 4 is tris(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-cyclotriguaiacylene and 5 is tris{4-(2-pyridyl)benzyl}cyclotiguaiacylene; and in the acetone clathrate of tris{4-(2-pyridyl)benzyl-amino}cyclotriguaiacylene. Clathrates of ligands 2 and 5 do not show the same dimeric motif, although 2 has an extended homomeric inclusion motif that gives a hexagonal network.