THE ORGANOMETALLIC MOLECULAR TINKERTOY APPROACH TO PLANAR GRID POLYMERS

A general approach is outlined for the synthesis of thin-layer materia ls of arbitrarily configured structure ('designer solids'), based on c onfinement to two dimensions. The synthesis of a building module, the tetra-n-butylammonium salt of II)bis[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-pyridyl)por phyrinate] (1), is described. It is shown by grazing incidence IR spec troscopy that this cross-shaped molecule adheres firmly to a mercury s urface, with the porphyrin rings parallel to the surface and the pyrid ine rings carried by the upper porphyrin ring ready for linear couplin g. The proposed surface-confined synthesis of a square grid, which wou ld define a first layer of a designer solid, can now be tested. (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science S.A.