Sulfate-templated self-assembly of new M4L6 tetrahedral metal organic cages†
Abstract
Six equivalents of N,N′-bis(4-aminobenzyl)urea, 12 equivalents of 2-formylpyridine and four equivalents of FeSO4 or NiSO4 undergo subcomponent self-assembly in aqueous solution to form tetrahedral cages around a single, encapsulated sulfate anion.