Transition-Metal-Mediated Rational Design and Self-Assembly of Chiral, Nanoscale Supramolecular Polyhedra with UniqueTSymmetry

A novel family of chiral, discrete, nanoscale-sized supramolecular cages are prepared, via self-assembly and noncovalent interactions from the tridentate ligand 1,3,5-tris(4-pyridyl)ethynylbenzene and (R)-(+)-BINAPPdII and -PtII bis(triflates). The cationic parts of these highly symmetrical species possess large three-dimensional cavities and are rare examples of molecules with T symmetry.