Th-Symmetric Nanoporous Network Built of Hexameric Metallamacrocycles with Disparate Cavities for Guest Inclusion

A hexanuclear flying saucer, [Cu6(Acntb)6]6+ (see structure), is obtained by the reaction of Cu(ClO4)2⋅6 H2O with the sodium salt of the tripodal ligand Acntb−. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding generates an open three-dimensional nanoporous network containing intra- and intermolecular cavities of different polarity for guest inclusion. HAcntb=N-[N′-(carboxymethyl)benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl]-N,N-bis(benzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)amine.