Stabilization of a Reactive Polynuclear Silver Carbide Cluster through the Encapsulation within a Supramolecular Cage

We report herein the synthesis of a new metal cluster-encapsulated supramolecular capsule, [(C C)@Ag5-6@(Py6)(2)](CF3SO3)(3-4)(3, Py6 = azacalix[6]-pyridine), by use of a bowl-shaped macrocyclic ligand Py6. The multinuclear silver carbide cluster aggregate in 3 is encapsulated by two Py6 ligands through both metal-ligand coordination and cation-pi interactions, spotlighting a new synthetic strategy for supramolecular capsules.