From discrete octahedral nanocages to 1D coordination polymer: coordination-driven a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation via anion exchange.

A discrete octahedral nano-cage has been synthesized by using a C(3)-symmetry semi-rigid pyridine-based ligand tppa. X-ray structure study reveals that the cage has a big inner cavity, flexible windows and all P=O moieties of tppa ligands are inside positions. By anion exchange the 0D nano-cages can transform to infinite chain without noticeable loss of their crystallinity.