Self-assembly from metal-organic vesicles to globular networks: metallogel-mediated phenylation of indole with phenyl boronic acid

Self-assembly of the conformationally. flexible bismethylimidazolyl ligands with Pd(OAc)(2) is described. Depending on whether the ligands provide the hydrogen bonding donor, a switching of metal-organic vesicles to globular networks gelating solvents is achieved. The metallogels exhibit catalytic activity for the cross-coupling of indole with phenyl boronic acid.