Imparting structural robustness of metal–organic cages based on oxo-dimolybdenum clusters

A family of robust and stable molybdenum-based metal–organic cages have been obtained based on the [Mo(2)O(2)(μ(2)-O)(2)](2+) secondary building unit. The resulting cages are decorated with different pyrdine derivatives that impart structural stability, resulting in the structural elucidation of the activated cage with single-crystal diffraction. The chemical robustness of the cage is also demonstrated by the post-synthetic modification of the cage, which allows the exchange of the pyridine derivatives without rupture of the cage.