Post-assembly guest oxidation in a metallo-supramolecular host and structural rearrangement to a coordination polymer

PTA hosted in a copper metallo-supramolecular triangle undergoes post-assembly oxidation to form PTAO in aerated solutions. The oxidation is triggered by selected co-solvents that also govern the formation of the final crystalline product leading to a discrete host-guest triangle {PTAO@[Cu(o-L)](3)} or to a 1D coordination polymer {(PTAO)(2)@[Cu-8][Cu-2]}(infinity) containing a {Cu-8} ring with a double hosting pocket.