Tris(pyridylmethylamino)cyclotriguaiacylene cavitands: an investigation of the solution and solid-state behaviour of metallo-supramolecular cages and cavitand-based coordination polymers.

The synthesis of the three isomeric tris(pyridylmethylamino)cyclotriguaiacylene cavitands is reported, along with the crystal structures of the 2- and 4-pyridyl derivatives. The generality of a previously described [Ag(2){tris(3-pyridylmethylamino)cyclotriguaiacylene}(2)](2+) dimeric capsule motif and the [Ag(4){tris(4-pyridylmethylamino)cyclotriguaiacylene}(4)](4+) tetrahedron with several silver salts was confirmed in the solid state and the corresponding solution species were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. Host-guest interactions in these systems have been probed and these interactions are demonstrated to alter and influence the self-assembly outcome of the reaction. Notably, introduction of larger glutaronitrile guest molecules to the [Ag(4)L(4)](4+) tetrahedron system prevents formation of the tetrahedral structure, resulting instead in the formation of a 4.8(2) coordination network in the solid state. In the absence of templating acetonitrile guests in the [Ag(2)(3)(2)](2+) capsule system, formation of a cage-based one-dimensional coordination polymer is observed.