Template and pH‐Mediated Synthesis of Tetrahedral Indium Complexes [Cs⊂{In₄(L)₄}]⁺ and [In₄(H^NL)₄]⁴⁺: Breaking the Symmetry of <i>N</i>‐Centered <i>C</i>₃ (L)³⁻ To Give Neutral [In₄(L)₄]

Abstract

Molecular Kinder eggs are generated from N-centered tripodal heptadentate tris(1,3-diketonate) ions (L3−) in the presence of indium ions. The tetrahedral complexes host a cesium ion ([Cs⊂{In4(L)4}]+, see picture) or four protons. Deprotonation of the species [In4(HNL)4]4+ generates the empty cage compound [In4(L)4], which comes with a break of the symmetry in the initial C3-symmetric tripodal ligand.