Lanthanide-Assisted Self-Assembly of an Inert, Metal-Containing Nonadentate Tripodal Receptor

Abstract

Lanthanide ions act as templates for self-assembly of ligand 1 to give the triple-stranded helicate 2. Treating 2 with bromine and then water gives the nonadentate tripodal receptor 3. In the absence of LnIII ions, only 20 % of the desired receptor (fac isomer) is obtained as a mixture with the mer isomer.