Selective host-guest interactions of a transformable coordination capsule/tube with fullerenes.

An M2L4 coordination capsule or an M2L2 coordination tube was selectively formed by the combination of Hg(II) hinges and bent bispyridine ligands. The two structures reversibly interconvert at room temperature in response to modulation of the metal-to-ligand ratio and exhibit different host-guest interaction behavior. The capsule alone encapsulates large spherical molecules, fullerenes C60 and C70, and the bound guests are released upon capsule-to-tube transformation by the simple addition of metal ions.