Eliminating the need for independent counterions in the construction of metal-organic rotaxane frameworks (MORFs)

The combination of a disulfonated-dibenzo-24crown-8 ether wheel and a dicationic 1,2-bis(pyridinium) ethane axle yields a neutral [2]pseudorotaxane which in combination with neutral metallic units such as a Cu(II) benzoate paddlewheel or Cu(I) Br unit yields one-dimensional coordination polymers (linear and bent) which are the first examples of charge neutral, metal-organic rotaxane frameworks.