Coordination Cages as Tunable Ligands for the Synthesis of Porous Salts

Abstract

Zirconium-based coordination cages are versatile platforms for exploring host-guest chemistry and the design of advanced materials. In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of a zirconium coordination cage featuring a sulfonate-based binding pocket preorganized for metal cation coordination. Through careful control of synthetic conditions, we selectively prepare cage variants incorporating lithium, sodium, or an empty binding pocket. Post-synthetic modification enables precise metallation with alternative metal cations. This work highlights the utility of preorganized coordination environments in designing tunable porous materials and provides new strategies for the synthesis of customizable porous salts.