Generation of cluster capsules (Ih) from decomposition products of a smaller cluster (Keggin-Td) while surviving ones get encapsulated: species with core–shell topology formed by a fundamental symmetry-driven reaction

Abstract

A novel and fundamental reaction system of matter following a type of ‘supramolecular Darwinism’ leads to the formation of giant spherical nano-sized cluster capsules as kinetically controlled destination having the highest possible symmetry (I_h) and formed directly from the decomposition products of the well known but less symmetrical Keggin anions (T_d) in aqueous medium in the presence of Fe^III–acting as a type of environmental influence–under conditions where Keggin anions are known to be extremely stable; remarkably the remaining non-decomposed Keggin anions finally get (non-covalently) encapsulated protected by the formed spherical capsules of the new supramolecular compound [PMo₁₂O₄₀ ⊂ {(Mo^VI)Mo^VI₅}₁₂ Fe^III₃₀O₂₅₂- (H₂O)₁₀₂(MeCO₂)₁₅]· xH₂O 1 1a ·xH₂O (x ≈ 120).