The solid-state architecture of a metallosupramolecular polyelectrolyte

Self-assembly of Fe(II) and the ditopic ligand 1,4-bis(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-4′-yl)benzene results in equilibrium structures in solutions, so-called metallosupramolecular coordination polyelectrolytes (MEPEs). It is exceedingly difficult to characterize such macromolecular assemblies, because of the dynamic nature. Therefore, hardly any structural information is available for this type of material. Here, we show that from dilute solutions, where small aggregates predominate, it is possible to grow nanoscopic crystals at an interface. A near atomic resolution structure of MEPE is obtained by investigating the nanoscopic crystals with electron diffraction in combination with molecular model…