Encapsulation of [(SO₄)₄(H₂O)1₁₂]⁸⁻ clusters in a metal organic framework of pyridyl functionalized cyanuric acid based tris-urea.

Encapsulation of hydrated sulfate in a bowl-shaped metal organic coordination polymer formed by Zn(2+) assisted self-assembly of a 3-pyridyl terminated cyanuric acid platform based urea receptor is reported in aqueous medium. Trapping of an unusual [(SO4)4(H2O)12](8-) cluster in a [Zn(H2O)6](2+) capped self-assembled structure is characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Furthermore, selective binding of SO4(2-) is established from the (1)H-NMR titration study.