Stoichiometric Self-Assembly of Shape-Persistent 2D Complexes: A Facile Route to a Symmetric Supramacromolecular Spoked Wheel

Abstract

An approach to multicomponent coordination-driven self-assembly of the first terpyridine-based, shape-persistent, giant two-dimensional D(6h) supramacromolecular spoked wheel is reported. Mixing core T6, rim T3, and Zn(II) or Cd(II) ions in a stoichiometric ratio (1:6:12) permitted the selective generation of a highly symmetric spoked wheel in 94% isolated yield via geometric and thermodynamic control. The products were characterized by a combination of traveling-wave ion mobility mass spectrometry and NMR techniques together with TEM imaging, which agreed with computational simulations.