Rational self‐assembly of heterobimetallic lantern‐shaped cages from benzofuran‐derived pyridine and terpyridine ligands

Supramolecular heterobimetallic lantern‐shaped cages were self‐assembled using ditopic ligands featuring both pyridine (py) and terpyridine (tpy) units anchored on a benzofuran backbone. These cages were constructed via coordination with Fe II /Pd II or Zn II /Pd II metal pairs, employing either a stepwise or one‐pot synthetic approach. To enhance structural complexity, a second linear bisterpyridine ligand was introduced to elongate the lantern skeleton via spontaneous heteroleptic complexation. This strategy facilitated the formation of a supramolecular cage with dual metal centers and dual ligand types.