Synthesis of open and closed metallacages using novel tripodal ligands: unusually stable silver(I) inclusion compound.

The tripodal ligand 1,3,5-(CH3)3C6[CH2OCH2C(pz)3]3 (L1, pz=pyrazolyl ring) reacts with AgBF4 to yield ([L12Ag3(CH3CN)](BF4)3).(CH3CN)4, an inclusion complex in which the encapsulated acetonitrile cannot escape the triangular cage unit in either the solid or solution phase. The analogous hexatopic ligand C6[CH2OCH2C(pz)3]6 forms a 2-dimensional polymer composed of similar triangular cage units, again with the encapsulation of one acetonitrile molecule, linked by the additional tris(pyrazolyl)methane units. In contrast, the complex formed with L1 and Cd2+ has a double, open cage structure holding two diethyl ether molecules.