Self-assembly of lattices with high structural complexity from a geometrically simple molecule

Abstract

Robust assembly of aromatic molecules Organic materials can exhibit high porosity, but the structures often collapse or decompose at high temperatures. Yamagishi et al. synthesized an aromatic molecule that bears a symmetrical outer shell of three dipyridylphenyl wedges and crystallized it from highly dielectric solvents. Porous crystals formed with complex pore-wall structures that resulted from labile C–H⋯N bonds and van der Waals forces. Despite the weakness of these interactions, the porous structure was stable up to 202°C and could be recovered after collapse by exposure to solvent vapor. Science , this issue p. 1242