A Structurally Variable Porous Organic Salt Based on a Multidirectional Supramolecular Cluster.

A porous organic salt (POS) composed of 2-sulfophenyl anthracene (2-SPA) and triphenylmetylamine (TPMA) forms five types of porous crystals, POS-a-e, by recognizing subtle differences in the molecular structure of incorporated guest molecules. This structurally variable POS was hierarchically designed on the basis of a supramolecular cluster with a directionally flexible linker formed by the organic salt. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that the salt forms six conformers attributable to rocking and rotational motions of the phenylene group in 2-SPA.