A metal-organic molecular box obtained from self-assembling around uranyl ions

Abstract

We used the peculiar coordination geometry of uranyl ions to build a three-dimensional superstructure of inprecedented architecture. The complexation of uranyl ions by a monoester derivative of the cis,trans regioisomer of Kemp’s triacid and µ-peroxo bridges leads a cagelike molecule with a roughly parallelepipedic inner cavity of ca. 700 ų able to host four medium-sized organic molecules.