Electron-deficient trifluoromethyl-substituted sub-components affect the properties of M4L4 tetrahedral cages

Abstract

Two supramolecular tetrahedral cages based on a new electron-deficient trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridylimine ligand are synthesised by sub-component self-assembly. Their structures are characterised by NMR und UV-Vis spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The iron(II) complex shows host–guest chemistry, complex-to-complex transformations and novel electronic properties.