Bucky-blocks : templating a coordination network with C-60

The reaction of NiCl2 center dot 6H(2)O with 4`-tert-butyl-4,2`:6`,4 ``-terpyridine (1) in MeOH/1,2-Cl2C6H4 leads to the formation of the 2-dimensional coordination polymer 4[Ni2Cl4(1)(4)]center dot 13(1,2-Cl2C6H4)center dot 30H(2)O. Each sheet comprises [4 + 4] macrocycles interconnected by octahedral trans-NiCl2N4 nodes. In the presence of C-60, NiCl2 center dot 6H(2)O and ligand 1 combine in MeOH/1,2-Cl2C6H4 to give crystalline solvated 3 [NiCl2(1)(2)]center dot C-60 which has a lamellar structure intercalated with C-60 molecules. The fullerene templates the formation of [3 + 3] bowl-shaped macrocycles which are connected through octahedral trans-NiCl2N4 nodes to [6 + 6] macrocycles generating 2-dimensional sheets.