Trigonal Prismatic Cu6L3 Coordination Cage: Encapsulation of Aromatic Molecules and Tuned Photoluminescence

Abstract

AbstractA trigonal prismatic Cu6L3 coordination cage has been assembled from Cu(I) and semi‐rigid bipyrazolyl ligand. The X‐ray crystallography demonstrates that the cage has a cavity and can encapsulate the toluene as a guest, exhibiting thermochromism phenomenon. Empty cage can be obtained by expulsion of the guest through single crystal to single crystal transformation. After removed the guest, the empty cage shows a blue‐shifted emission (580 nm), in comparison to its parent cage (615 nm). The empty cage could further serve as a host to encapsulate other aromatic molecules (e. g. mesitylene), which shows new emission band. The trigonal prismatic Cu6L3 coordination cage provides a platform to make advanced luminescent materials.