An Alkoxo−Hydroxo-Bridged Octanuclear Copper(II) Complex with a Hydrophobic Exterior and a Hydrophilic Metallamacrobicyclic Core Showing Selective Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions

An octanuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu8L4(OH)3](ClO4)·3H2O·C7H12, has been prepared and structurally characterized (H3L = a pentadentate Schiff-base ligand). The complex, which has a lateral-type metallamacrobicyclic core with a cavity, shows chemically significant noncovalent interactions with the solvent molecules. While the inner core is hydrophilic showing hydrogen-bonding interactions with the water molecules, the C7H12 molecule is placed near the hydrophobic environment created by the methyl groups of the Schiff-base ligands.