Self-assembly of M ₂₄L ₄₈ polyhedra based on empirical prediction

Critical structural switch: A small initial difference in the angle within bidentate ligands (see scheme) is amplified into an incommensurable difference in the resultant structures (M ₁₂L ₂₄ or M ₂₄L ₄₈). This molecular-level emergent behavior was predicted from the empirical threshold of the ligand bend angle, determined by a ligand mixing experiment, for the critical M ₁₂L ₂₄/M ₂₄L ₄₈ switchover.