Multitopic Corannulene-Porphyrin Hosts for Fullerenes: A Three-Layer Scaffold for Precisely Designed Supramolecular Ensembles

Abstract

A method to synthesize coplanar dimeric porphyrins bearing eight corannulene units has been developed. It relies on the stability of octahedral CO-capped Ru(II) complexes linked by N-donor ligands. This specific arrangement provides an optimal scaffold to accommodate fullerenes by imposing corannulene groups at precise distance and relative orientation. Their capabilities for C60 recognition have been thoroughly assessed, revealing that each system can encapsulate up to four buckyballs, giving rise to a compact supramolecular complex echoing a discrete donor-acceptor-donor trilayer offer-ing significant potential properties for further exploitation