In recent years the search for new open-framework materials with transition metal elements has become the focus of much interest due to the potential application of these materials as absorbents, ion exchangers, solid-state electrolytes, and catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis. [1] Such applications are not possible with main group systems of tetrahedral framework zeolites. The syntheses of these materials usually involve organic templates, for example organic diamines, for generating large cavities and are performed under mild hydrothermal conditions to avoid the formation of dense phases.Microporous behavior has been successfully extended to the phosphate and arsenate systems of at least 14 elements of the periodic table, but examples dealing with chromium have not been reported. [1b, 2] The pattern of behavior of these kinds of compounds is underpinned by the strength of the PÀO COMMUNICATIONS 3683 lengths are expected to be 56 and 27 nm for PAC-1 and PAC-2, respectively, which correspond approximately to the actual average PAC lengths adsorbed in the presence of alkanes. Therefore, we suggest that the length distribution of PACs in solution is preserved upon co-adsorption of PAC and alkanes. Apparently, PACs and alkanes co-assemble at the interface without interfacial reorganization.In summary, almost perfectly straight and epitaxially oriented chains of metallosupramolecular coordination-polyelectrolyte±amphiphile complexes formed from rigid ditopic metal ion receptors are self-assembled on the basal plane of graphite by using long chain alkanes as an orienting template layer. Through a sequence of molecular recognition steps comprising metal ion coordination, electrostatic interactions, and amphiphilic self-assembly the adsorption of nanoscopic assemblies can be performed at an interface in a predictable manner. Controlling the correlation of position and orientation is of paramount importance for encoding new properties and functions. [15] On-going research in our laboratories indicates that this approach is of general utility. The modularity of this approach provides an entry to encode the valueadding physicochemical properties of metallosupramolecular devices into nanoscopic architectures that can be addressed and manipulated individually by scanning probe techniques.
Experimental SectionLigands 1, 2, and 3 were prepared according to literature procedures. [16] The assembly of MEPE and PAC was carried out according to previously published procedures. [8] Alkanes (C 32 H 66 , C 44 H 90 , C 50 H 102 , Aldrich) were used as received. Solutions of neat PACs (1.3 î 10 À3 g L À1 ) or mixtures of PAC (1.3 î 10 À3 g L À1 ) with C 32 H 66 , C 44 H 90 , C 50 H 102 (1.3 î 10 À2 g L À1 ) were spin-coated onto the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG, Advanced Ceramics Co., USA, quality ZYH at 40 rps). The coated graphite samples were dried for 10 min at 40 8C before SFM investigations were carried out with a Nanoscope IIIa (Digital Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA) in the tapping mode. An E-scann...