Synthesis and characterization of triptycene based tripods and design of a metallasupramolecular cage

Synthesis and characterization of four new tripodal linkers each with a central triptycene unit and pendant pyridine unit have been reported. These tripods have flexible arms due to the presence of amide linkages that bridge the peripheral pyridine units and central triptycene core. Self-assembly of one of the tripods with Pt(II) based ditopic acceptor unit is the first example of a truly supramolecular cage based on a triptycene tecton. Additionally, this metallacage also represents the unique example of a Pt(II) based trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) cage containing amide functionality. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.