Self-Assembly Process of a Pd2 L4 Capsule: Steric Interactions between Neighboring Components Favor the Formation of Large Intermediates.

The effect of molecular interactions between the components on the self-assembly process of Pd2 L4 structures was investigated by a 1 H NMR-based quantitative approach (QASAP: quantitative analysis of self-assembly process). Although the self-assembly of the Pd2 L4 cage without interactions between the bent ligands took place, mainly producing small intermediates, the self-assembly of the Pd2 L4 capsule composed of bent ligands with anthracene panels tends to produce large intermediates containing more components than the capsule. This is ascribed to steric interactions between the panels.