Cover Picture: Finite, Spherical Coordination Networks that Self-Organize from 36 Small Components (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 42/2004)
Abstract
Molecular spheres can be readily formed. The cover picture shows the crystal structure of a spherical complex that spontaneously forms from 36 small components (12 Pd2+ ions and 24 bent ligands). In their Communication on page 5621 ff., M. Fujita and co-workers describe the self-assembly of this almost 4-nm diameter hollow complex which is soluble in polar media and stable under STM and CSI-MS conditions. The functionalization of its periphery with fullerenes or porphyrins is also described. (The graphics were prepared by Dr. Akito Hori.)