Olive-shaped chiral supramolecules: simultaneous self-assembly of heptameric lanthanum clusters and carbon dioxide fixation.

Cluster's last stand: Six chiral reduced Schiff base ligands containing amino acids and seven La(III) ions self-assemble to form a novel heptameric lanthanum supramolecule with the aid of the CO(3)(2-) ion (see picture). The cluster exists as a single chiral triple helix. The CO(3)(2-) ion, which is derived from atmospheric CO(2) , adopts a rare mu(3)-tridentate bridging mode that links three La(III) ions, thus allowing the cluster to efficiently fix CO(2).