Different Modes of Anion Response Cause Circulatory Phase Transfer of a Coordination Cage with Controlled Directionality

Controlled directional transport of molecules is essential to complex natural systems, exemplified by cellular transport up to organismal circulatory systems. In contrast to these natural systems, synthetic systems that enable transport of molecules between several spatial locations on the macroscopic scale, when external stimuli are applied, remain to be explored. Here we report the transfer of a supramolecular cage with controlled directionality between three phases, based on the cage that responds reversibly in two distinct ways to different anions. Notably, circulatory phase transfer of the cage was demonstrated based on a system where the three layers of solvent are arranged within a circular track. The direction of circulation between solvent phases depended upon the order of addition of anions.European Research Council (695009), UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, EP/P027067/1

Triply Stacked Heterogeneous Array of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanine through Stepwise Formation of a Fourfold Rotaxane and an Ionic Complex

We report the preparation and crystal structure of a triply stacked metal complex array in which a Cu–phthalocyanine is sandwiched between different Cu–porphyrins. The discrete heterogeneous assembly was prepared through formation of a fourfold rotaxane from a tetradactyl porphyrin with alkylammonium moieties and a phthalocyanine bearing four crown ethers and the subsequent formation of an ionic complex between the fourfold rotaxane and a tetraanionic porphyrin. The tetraanionic porphyrin, Cu–TPPS^4–, is selectively bound to the fourfold rotaxane through cooperative π–π and ionic interactions. The crystal structure revealed the columnar stacked array of the three planar building components in a precise order and spatial arrangement that promote intermolecular electronic communication

Close-Stacking of Iron-Oxo-Based Double-Decker Complex on Graphite Surface Achieved High Catalytic CH4 Oxidation Activity Comparable to that of Methane Monooxygenases

Herein, we report that the close-stacking of a double-decker-type dinuclear iron phthalocyanine complex on a graphite surface is effective for achieving high methane oxidation activity, comparable to those of certain MMOs, in an aqueous solution. </div