Molecular recognition of planar and non-planar aromatic hydrocarbons through multipoint Ag–π bonding in a dinuclear metallo-macrocycle

Exploration of a novel structural motif of host–guest interactions is one of the most fundamental topics to develop macrocycle-based host–guest/supramolecular systems. Herein, we present an unprecedented mode of inclusion of aromatic hydrocarbons into a macrocyclic cavity via multipoint Ag–π bonding as a driving force. A dinuclear Ag(I)-macrocycle encapsulated one molecule of anthracene, a typical planar aromatic hydrocarbon, in solution and in the solid state. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the host–guest inclusion complex revealed the binding of anthracene via multipoint Ag–π bonding to both Ag(I) ions arranged within the open-ended nano-cavity of the dinuclear Ag(I)-macrocycle. Notably, this binding motif based on Ag–π bonding was also applied to the inclusion of triptycene, a non-planar aromatic hydrocarbon with a steric tripodal structure, to evaluate the rotational motion of the molecular paddle-wheel in the Ag(I)-macrocycle.