Cation-controlled capture of polyoxovanadate-based organic–inorganic 1D architectures

Abstract

Metal cations are used to control the selective crystallization of organic–inorganic supramolecular polymers. Two complementary monomers, a dodecanuclear vanadate [V₁₂O₃₂(NO₃)]⁵⁻ and the organic macrocycle cyclen assemble into hybrid host–guest aggregates. In the presence of Ba²⁺ or La³⁺, supramolecular polymerization and crystallization is driven by a complex interplay of cyclene protonation, hydrogen-bonding and electrostatics.