A family of double-bowl pseudo metallocalix[6]arene discs.

We report the synthesis and magnetic characterisation of a series of planar [M₇] (M= Ni(II), Zn(II)) disc complexes [Ni₇(OH)₆(L₁)₆](NO₃)₂ (1), [Ni₇(OH)₆(L₁)₆](NO₃)₂·2MeOH (2), [Ni₇(OH)₆(L₁)₆](NO₃)₂·3MeNO₂ (3), [Ni₇(OH)₆(L₂)₆](NO₃)₂·2MeCN (4), [Zn₇(OH)₆(L₁)₆](NO₃)₂·2MeOH·H₂O (5) and [Zn₇(OH)₆(L₁)₆](NO₃)₂·3MeNO₂ (6) (where HL₁ = 2-iminomethyl-6-methoxy-phenol, HL₂ = 2-iminomethyl-4-bromo-6-methoxy-phenol). Each member exhibits a double-bowl pseudo metallocalix[6]arene topology whereby the individual [M₇] units form molecular host cavities which are able to accommodate various guest molecules (MeCN, MeNO₂ and MeOH). Magnetic susceptibility measurements carried out on complexes 1 and 4 indicate weak exchange between the Ni(II) centres.