Dynamic Stereochemistry of M8Pd6 Supramolecular Cages Based on Metal‐Center Lability for Differential Chiral Induction, Resolution, and Recognition

Abstract

AbstractA series of isostructural supramolecular cages with a rhombic dodecahedron shape have been assembled with distinct metal‐coordination lability (M8Pd6‐MOC‐16, M=Ru2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Zn2+). The chirality transfer between metal centers generally imposes homochirality on individual cages to enable solvent‐dependent spontaneous resolution of Δ8/Λ8−M8Pd6 enantiomers; however, their distinguishable stereochemical dynamics manifests differential chiral phenomena governed by the cage stability following the order Ru8Pd6>Ni8Pd6>Fe8Pd6>Zn8Pd6. The highly labile Zn centers endow the Zn8Pd6 cage with conformational flexibility and deformation, enabling intrigue chiral‐Δ8/Λ8−Zn8Pd6 to meso‐Δ4Λ4−Zn8Pd6 transition induced by anions. The cage stabilization effect differs from inert Ru2+, metastable Fe2+/Ni2+, and labile Zn2+, resulting in different chiral‐guest induction. Strikingly, solvent‐mediated host–guest interactions have been revealed for Δ8/Λ8−(Ru/Ni/Fe)8Pd6 cages to discriminate the chiral recognition of the guests with opposite chirality. These results demonstrate a versatile procedure to control the stereochemistry of metal‐organic cages based on the dynamic metal centers, thus providing guidance to maneuver cage chirality at a supramolecular level by virtue of the solvent, anion, and guest to benefit practical applications.