Approaching polymetallic 'assemblies of assemblies' using ligands with multiple functionality--novel Mn10M2 (M = alkali metal) chains with 'ionophoric' end cavities.

A tri-functional ligand with hydrazone, oxime and o-vanillin subunits uses separate encoded coordination instructions to create a novel extended spin-coupled cluster where the hydazone oxygen and oxime groups of three ligands combine to create bridges linking ten Mn ions together, leaving organized O(6) end cavities capable of coordinating oxo-philic cations. This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011