Solid state interconversion of cages and coordination networks via conformational change of a semi-rigid ligand

The reaction of silver(I) perchlorate with the semi-rigid ligand 1,4-bis((3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)methyl) benzene (bisox) in methanol gives a triply-interpenetrated sheet structure, but a structure containing both interpenetrated sheets and Ag-2(bisox)(3) cages is formed on recrystallisation from acetonitrile-diethyl ether. Rearrangement of the cages into sheets occurs on heating under vacuum, a process which involves a solid state change in conformation of the bisox ligands.