Engineering organic/inorganic diols that reversibly capture and release volatile guests

The structural and clathrating behaviour of some trans-M(LOH)(2)X-n(M = Ag+, Pd2+; X = anion) complexes is studied. The role of anions and included solvent molecules in inducing supramolecular isomerism is discussed. The toolbox of supramolecular interactions which can be used for the assembly of these systems involves mainly OH center dot center dot center dot OH and OH. X hydrogen bonds, and can be mediated by the guest molecules (G) via OH center dot center dot center dot G interactions. The diverse supramolecular configurations of some anion-mediated Ag(LOH)(2)X (X = BF4, PF6) networks are analysed. In the solvent-mediated crystal networks of Pd(LOH)(2)X-2 center dot nG (X = Cl, I, CH3, CH3COO; G = acetone, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, 1,4-dioxane), the substructures built by the solvent domains are discussed in relation to the solvation/desolvation processes.