Catenation of Homochiral Metal–Organic Nanocages or Nanotubes

Abstract

Catenation based on homochiral metal-organic nanocages or nanotubes is realized in this work for the first time. A flexible enantiopure ligand is employed to assemble metal ions, with the structure-directing effect of an auxiliary ligand, a triangular-prism-like nanocage, and a nanotube successfully built. Further 0D → 3D catenation is achieved by interlocking the nanocages, and 1D → 3D catenation based on nanotubes is also presented. This work reveals extraordinary catenating architectures from molecular cages and tubes.