Clamshell opening in the mixed-metal supramolecular aggregates formed by fourfold reduced corannulene for maximizing intercalated metal content

The first members of a new class of supramolecular organometallic compounds with mixed-alkali-metal cluster cores, LiK5 and Li3 K3 , sandwiched between two four-fold reduced corannulene decks are prepared and fully characterized. The triple-decker supramolecular anions, [(C20 H10 (4-) )(LiK5 )(6+) (C20 H10 (4-) )](2-) and [(C20 H10 (4-) )(Li3 K3 )(6+) (C20 H10 (4-) )](2-) , illustrate a record ability of bowl-shaped and highly charged corannulene to provide all its sites, five benzene rings fused to a central five-membered ring, for binding of six alkali-metal ions. The previously unseen engagement of the hub-site of C20 H10 (4-) in lithium binding is accompanied by unprecedented shifts up to -24 ppm in (7) Li NMR spectra. The discussion of product formation mechanism, augmented by calculations, is provided.