Cage-by-cage supramolecular polymerization via panel-decorated triphenylphosphine organic cage.

Significant efforts have been dedicated to designing porous organic cage compounds with geometric complexity and topological diversity. However, the use of these cage molecules as premade building units for constructing infinite cage-based superstructures remains unexplored. Here, we report the use of a panel-decorated phosphine organic cage as a special monomer to achieve supramolecular polymerization, resulting in cage-by-cage noncovalent polymers through the synergy of metal-coordination and intercage π - π dimerization. At a monomer concentration of 122 mM, the average degree of polymerization reaches 17, corresponding to a molecular weight of 26 kDa. The obtained cage-based supramolecular polymers can further hierarchically self-assemble into vesicular morphologies or one-dimensional nanofiber architectures. Selective control over the cosolvents can regulate their structural hierarchy and assembled morphology. This approach paves a new way for the construction of cage-based hierarchical assemblies and materials.