Hierarchical assembly of Ag40 nanowheel ranging from building blocks to diverse superstructure regulation.

Achieving precise and controllable hierarchical self-assembly of functional nanoclusters within crystal lattices to create distinct architectures is of immense significance, yet it creates considerable challenges. Here we successfully synthesized a silver nanowheel Ag₄₀, along with its optically pure enantiomers S-/R-Ag_40. Each species possesses an internal nanospace and exhibits host-guest interactions. These structures are constructed from primary building blocks (Ag₉). By manipulating the surface anions and guest molecules, the nanowheels function as secondary building blocks, spontaneously organizing into complex double- and triple-helical crystalline superstructures or one-dimensional chains {Ag₄₁}_n through conformational matching and diverse noncovalent interactions. Moreover, we demonstrate that the water-mediated complex specifically assembled with uridine monophosphate nucleotides, resulting in chiral assemblies of Ag₄₀ that exhibit chiroptical activity for specific recognition. Our findings provide insights into the efficient construction of assemblies with hollow frameworks and propose strategies for superstructure engineering by manipulating surface motifs. Achieving precise and controllable hierarchical self-assembly of nanoclusters within crystal lattices is of immense significance yet remains challenging. Here the authors synthesize a silver nanowheel Ag₄₀, along with its optically pure enantiomers S-/R-Ag₄₀, and characterize its self-assembly into double- and triple-helical superstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]