Bestowing structure upon the pores of a supramolecular network.

Trigonal molecules compartmentalise the pores of a honeycomb network of 3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PTCDI) and 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine (melamine). Extending the 1,3,5-tri(phenylene-ethynylene)benzene core by a phenyl group allows for a well-defined accommodation of the molecule into two symmetry equivalent positions in the pore. The corresponding styryl or phenylene-ethynylene derivatives exceed the pore size and, thus, impede pore modification.