Self-assembly of multicomponent multimetallic lead(II) complexes of cylindrical architecture

The coordination of lead(II) ions to a mixture of ligands 3 and 4 or 3 and 5 leads to the quantitative generation of the cylindrical cage-type archite ctures 1 and 2, respectively. The structure of these entities in solution h as been deduced from spectral and analytical data and confirmed for 1 in th e solid state by an X-ray crystal structure determination. The formation of 1 and 2 represents self-assembly processes involving the establishment of 36 and 54 coordination bonds between 11 and 15 components, respectively.