Enantiopure Magnetic Heterometallic Coordination Cubic Cages [MII8CuII6] (M = Ni, Co)

A series of enantiopure magnetic heterometallic coordination cubic cages [MII8CuII6L24(MeCN)12](ClO4)28 (1:M = Ni, 2:M = Co, L = chiral ditopic ligand) have been synthesized. These cages have cubic structures enclosing a 2250 Å3 interior cavity with controllable chirality. Both the vertexes and the faces of the cubic cages are in chiral arrangements, which are dictated by the chiral amines used in forming the ligands. R-1-Phenylethylamine leads to 8Λ-6P configuration, while S-1-phenylethylamine results in 8Δ-6M ones. The magnetic behaviors of the cages are varied by the metals. They all show weak antiferromagnetic interaction. These cages represent the first series of enantiopure magnetic cubic cages, which offer a platform for the study of host–guest chemistry of potential chiral magnetic guests.