Gondola-shaped luminescent tetrarhenium metallacycles with crown-ether-like multiple recognition sites

The self-assembly of gondola-shaped tetrarhenium metallacyclophanes was achieved in near quantitative yield from Re(CO)(3) corners, a ditopic heterocyclic clip, and a bischelating-bridging unit using an orthogonal-bonding approach. The highly luminescent metallacycles contain crown-ether-like recognition sites, which are capable of selectively recognizing metal ions and planar aromatic molecules.