Stabilization of a reactive polynuclear silver carbide cluster through the encapsulation within a supramolecular cage.

We report herein the synthesis of a new metal cluster-encapsulated supramolecular capsule, [(C≡C)@Ag(5-6)@(Py6)(2)](CF(3)SO(3))(3-4) (3, Py6 = azacalix[6]pyridine), by use of a bowl-shaped macrocyclic ligand Py6. The multinuclear silver carbide cluster aggregate in 3 is encapsulated by two Py6 ligands through both metal-ligand coordination and cation-π interactions, spotlighting a new synthetic strategy for supramolecular capsules.