Systematic assembly of the double molecular boxes: {Cs[subset][[CpCo[(CN).sub.3]].sub.4][[Cp*Ru].sub.3]} as a tridentate ligand

Cubic cage compounds composed of Co-CN-Ru linkages have been prepared which illustrate the following features: (i) new motifs for alkali metal ion complexation (i.e., cationic receptors for cations), (ii) a new family of triaza-metalloligands, and (iii) a double box-like cage. The cages are synthesized by the condensation of [[CpCo[(CN).sub.3]].sup.-] and [[Cp*Ru[(NCMe).sub.3]].sup.+] (cyclopentadienyl, Cp; pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, Cp*) the presence of [Cs.sup.+]. The species [{Cs[subset]([[CpCo[(CN).sub.3]].sub.4][[Cp*Ru].sub.4]).sup.+] and {Cs[subset][{[[CpCo[(CN).sub.3]].sub.4][[Cp*Ru].sub.3][Cp*Rh]).sup.2+] illustrate the box-completion reaction Cs [subset] [Co.sub.4][Ru.sub.3] + M (M = Cp*[Rh.sup.2+], Cp*[Ru.sup.+]). With the naked ion precursors [[Na[(NCMe).sub.6]].sup.+] and [[Fe[(NCMe).sub.6]].sup.2+], the box-completion reactions afforded [{Na[{Cs[subset][[CpCo[(CN).sub.3]].sub.4][[Cp*Ru].sub.3]]}.sub.2]}.sup.+] and [{Fe[{Cs[subset] [[CpCo[(CN).sub.3]].sub.4][[Cp*Ru].sub.3]]}.sub.2]}.sup.2+]. These cages provide the first examples, to our knowledge, of the double-box motif.