Design, self-assembly, and photophysical properties of pentameric metallomacrocycles: [M5(N-hexyl[1,2-bis(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridin-4-yl)]carbazole)5][M = Fe(ii), Ru(ii), and Zn(ii)]

A novel family of metallopentacycles was constructed by the facile self-assembly of a bis(terpyridine)-carbazole monomer utilizing terpyridine-metal(II)-terpyridine connectivity; its photophysical properties were investigated.