Self-assembly of an Octa-uranate Cage Complex with a Rigid bis-Catechol Ligand

2 3 6 7-Tetrahydroxy·9,10·dimethyl·9,10-dihydro-9,10· etha~oanthracene, LH41 reacts with uranyl nitrate in the presence of triethylamine to give a highly symmetric octa-uranate complex with a molecular cage geometry. Four LH2 1igands act as bis-bidentate divergent and rigid bridges between two [(UOz)(Oz)], squares. The resulting molecular container is surrounded by the hydrogen bonded triethylammonium ions and contains hydrogen bonded water molecules. This complex is compared to a previously repo~ed .octa-uranate mole~ular box !nvolving dicarboxyhc ac1ds and JL·peroxo-lons as bndges. Both compounds evidence the potential of uranyl ions as supramolecular building blocks.