Molecular tectonics: tubular crystals with controllable channel size and orientation

Abstract

The combination of flexible neutral organic tectons based on two pyridines interconnected by a thioether or thioester type spacer with an inorganic ZnSiF₆ pillar leads to the formation of 2-D coordination networks and the packing of the latter generates crystals offering controllable tubular channels with imposed orientation along the pillar axis.