Flexible Eightfold Interpenetrating Diamondoid Network Generating 1D Channels: Selective Binding with Organic Guests

An 8-fold interpenetrating diamondoid network, [Ni(cyclam)]2[TCM]. 2DMF x 10H2O, has been prepared by the self-assembly of a Ni-(II)cyclam macrocyclic complex and sodium tetrakis[4-(carboxyphenyl)-oxamethyl]methane in DMF/water. The network shows an unusual [4 + 4] mode of interpenetration, generating 1D channels of effective window size 6.7 A x 4.7 A. The network shows flexible behavior: it becomes nonporous on removal of the guest molecules occupying the channels, but the open structure is restored when the desolvated solid is immersed in the mixture of H2O/DMF (1:1, v/v) for 5 min. The desolvated host has different binding capacities for n-butanol, pyridine, and ethanol.