Kinetically controlled narcissistic self-sorting of Pd(II)-linked self-assemblies from structurally similar tritopic ligands.

Herein, we present the narcissistic self-sorted state from two kinds of structurally similar tritopic ligands with a cis -protected Pd(II) complex, which was generated by both the pathway-dependent process and the proper choice of the leaving ligand. This metastable state could not be attained by simple mixing of all components by heating under thermodynamic control.