Design of metallosupramolecular materials encompassing more than one kind of supramolecular interaction can become deceptive, but it is necessary to better understand the concept of the controlled formation of supramolecular systems. Herein, we show the structural diversity of the bis-compartmental phenoxo-benzimidazole ligand H3L1 upon self-assembly with variety of d-block metal ions, accounting for factors such as: counterions, pH, solvent and reaction conditions. Solid-state and solution studies show that the parent ligand can accommodate different forms, related to (de)protonation and proton-transfer, resulting in the formation of mono-, bi- or tetrametallic architectures, which was also confirmed with control studies on the new mono-compartmental phenoxo-benzimidazole H2L2 ligand analogue. For the chosen architectures, structural variables such as porous character, magnetic behaviour or luminescence studies were studied to demonstrate how the form of H3L1 ligand affects the final form of the supramolecular architecture and observed properties. Such complex structural variations within the benzimidazole-phenoxo-type ligand have been demonstrated for the first time and this proof-of-concept can be used to integrate these principles in more sophisticated architectures in the future, combining both the benzimidazole and phenoxide subunits. Ultimately, those principles could be utilized for targeted manipulation of properties through molecular tectonics and crystal engineering aspects.

This work was supported by the National Science Center, Poland; OPUS—grant UMO-2016/21/B/ST5/00175 (PI: V.P.); SONATA—grant UMO-2020/39/D/ST4/01182 (PI: A.G.), PRELUDIUM—grant UMO-2022/45/N/ST4/00344 (PI: D.M.), IDUB-UAM (project no. 030/07/POB3/0010–PI: A.G.) “International support for AMU staff – international internships as part of the program—International Junior and Senior Exchange” and “UAM Excellence Visiting Professors” (project no. 094/01/POB3/0010—PI: G.C. and A.G.). A.G. is a scholarship holder of the Polish Ministry of Education and Science for outstanding young scientists. D.M. is a scholarship holder of the Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation for the academic year 2021/2022.