Related Polygonal and Polyhedral Systems

Application of the lessons learnt in the self-assembly of molecular squares has led to successful strategies for preparing further molecular polygons (and, in particular, new triangles, rectangles and hexagons) as well as examples of particular other polyhedra.  

The self-assembly of a molecular square consisting of four [Pt(ethane-1,2-diamine)] corner units and four singly deprotonated uracil nucleobases 26 has 

Rauter, I. Mutikainen, M. Blomberg, C.J.L. Lock, P. Amo-Ochoa, E. Freisinger, L. Randaccio, E. Zangrando, E. Chairparin and B. Lippert, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl., 1997, 36, 1296. 

The self-assembly of the supramolecular cube 27 from 20 components has been reported. Using nitromethane as a non-co-ordinating solvent, [Ru([9]ane-S3)(dimethyl sulfoxide)Cl2J was treated with 4,4-bipyridine in an 8 12 (namely 2 3) ratio and the reaction was monitored by NMR spectroscopy. The proposed 

Haslam, H. Adams, S.L. Heath and J.A. Thomas, Chem. Commun., 1998, 1681. 

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