The dimeric "hand-shake" motif in complexes and metallo-supramolecular assemblies of cyclotriveratrylene-based ligands

A series of clathrate and metal complexes with cyclotriveratrylene‐like molecular host ligands show a similar dimeric homomeric inclusion motif in which a ligand arm of one host is the intra‐cavity guest of another and vice versa. This “hand‐shake” motif is found in the trinuclear transition metal complex [Cu3Cl6(1)]⋅CH3CN⋅1.5 H2O in which 1 is tris(4‐[2,2′,6′,2′′‐terpyridyl]benzyl)cyclotriguaiacylene; in the self‐included M4L4 tetrahedral metallo‐supramolecular assembly [Ag4(2)4] ⋅(BF4)4 in which 2 is tris‐(2‐quinolylmethyl)cyclotriguaiacylene; in the 1D coordination chains [Ag(4)]⋅ReO4 ⋅CH3CN and [Ag(5)]⋅SbF6⋅3 DMF⋅H2O in which 4 is tris(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)cyclotriguaiacylene and 5 is tris{4‐(2‐pyridyl)benzyl}cyclotriguaiacylene; and in the acetone clathrate of tris{4‐(2‐pyridyl)benzyl‐amino}cyclotriguaiacylene. Clathrates of ligands 2 and 5 do not show the same dimeric motif, although 2 has an extended homomeric inclusion motif that gives a hexagonal network.