Supramolecular structures based on dimetal units: simultaneous utilization of equatorial and axial connections

As determined by X-ray crystallography, tetranuclear metal-metal bound molecular loops [Rh-2(DAniF)(2)](2)- (O2CCH2CO2)(2) (DAniF = N,N'-di-p-anisylformamidinate) react with 2-N donor linkers to give a tubular structure {[Rh-2(DAniF)(2)](2)(O2CCH2CO2)(2)(NC5H4CHCHC5H4N)(2)}(n) 1, and a sheet-like structure with interstitial dichloromethane molecules for [Rh-2(DAniF)(2)](2)(O2CCH2-CO2)(2)(NCC6H4CN)(2)}(n) 2; when the assembly unit was changed from [Rh-2(DAniF)(2)(O2CCH2CO2)](2) to the square [Rh-2(DAniF)(2)(O2CCO2)](4) and the linker NCC6F4C6F4CN was used, the compound {[Rh-2(DAniF)(2)](4)(O2CCO2)(4)(NCC6F4C6F4CN)(4)}(n) 3, was formed, in which there are infinite tubes of square cross section having entrained CH2Cl2 molecules.