Coordination-Driven Face-Directed Self-Assembly of a M₉L₆ Hexahedral Nanocage from Octahedral Ni(II) Ions and Asymmetric Hydrazone Ligands

A enneanuclear nanocage, [Ni₉(HL)₆(Pz)₆](PzH)₃(ClO₄)₃(H₂O)₂₄ (1), has been synthesized by coordination-driven face-directed self-assembly of octahedral Ni(II) ions and asymmetric hydrazone ligands with addition of pyrazole in ethanol solution. Compound 1 with hexahedral nanocage structure has been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, TGA, ESI-MS, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, variable-temperature magnetic studies for compound 1 have also been reported.