Metallosupramolecular tetragonal prisms via multicomponent coordination-driven template-free self-assembly.

We present a general strategy for the synthesis of stable 3-D metallosupramolecular tetragonal prisms in which multicomponent coordination-driven self-assembly allows for single supramolecular species to be formed. The appropriate stoichiometric combination of a tetraphenylethylene-based tetratopic donor (1), a linear dipyridine donor (2), and a 90 degrees platinum metal complex (3) affords tetragonal prisms (4) as single products. The compounds have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The size of the supramolecules was determined by pulsed-gradient spin-echo NMR and modeled with molecular force field simulation methods.