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Fig. 2.13 X-ray crystal structures of Q[6] with the alkali metal ion: a molecular capsule with
Cs
+
+
+
; b molecular bowl with Cs
; c molecular capsule with Na
; and d the representation of
molecular capsule and molecular bowl built by Q[ n ]s
Cs1 and the portal carbonyl oxygens is 3.305 Å on average, and can reach a maxi-
mum of 3.616 Å.
Kim and coworkers first reported a simple Q[6]/Cs + complex in 1998 [ 32 ], in
which the Cs + cation can effectively coordinate only four of six carbonyl oxy-
gens of a portal of a Q[6] molecule. The lengths of the Cs-O carbonyl bonds are in
the range 3.100-3.378 Å (Fig. 2.13 a). However, with the aid of an organic guest
(tetrahydrofuran, THF), the Cs + cation fully covers the portal of the Q[6] mol-
ecule, and forms a typical molecular bowl. The resulting Cs-O carbonyl bond
lengths are in the range 3.144-3.584 Å. In particular, the bond length of Cs-O THF
is only 2.934 Å, suggesting that the strong bonding between the Cs + cation and
the included THF further draws the Cs + cation toward the portal of the Q[6]
molecule, resulting in the formation of the fully covered Q[6]/THF/Cs + molecu-
lar bowl (Fig. 2.13 b). Such phenomenon exemplifies a typical instance involving
Q[ n ]-based host-guest/coordination chemistry. An earlier case involving Q[ n ]-
based host-guest/coordination chemistry is the Q[6]/THF/Na + molecular cap-
sule also reported by Kim and coworkers in 1996 [ 33 ]. In this complex, two Na +
cations are capped at each of the two portals of the Q[6] molecule, and a THF
molecule is included in the cavity of the Q[6] molecule; thus, a sealed molecular
capsule is formed (Fig. 2.13 c). The bonding and release of the included THF can
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