Recent developments in the thiamacrocyclic chemistry of the latter d-block elements

Molecular Dynamics and Near-Tg Phenomena of Cyclic Thioethers

This article presents the synthesis and molecular dynamics investigation of three novel cyclic thioethers: 2,3-(4'-methylbenzo)-1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododeca-2-ene (compound 1), 2,3,14,15-bis(4',4″(5″)-methylbenzo)-1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25-octathiacyclotetracosa-2,14-diene (compound 2), and 2,3,8,9-bis(4',4″(5″)-methylbenzo)-1,4,7,10-tetrathiacyclododeca-2,8-diene (compound 3). The compounds exhibit relatively high glass transition temperatures (Tg), which range between 254 and 283 K. This characteristic positions them within the so-far limited category of crown-like glass-formers. We demonstrate that cyclic thioethers may span both the realms of ordinary and sizeable molecular glass-formers, each featuring distinct physical properties. Furthermore, we show that the Tg follows a sublinear power law as a function of the molar mass within this class of compounds. We also reveal multiple dielectric relaxation processes of the novel cyclic thioethers. Above the Tg, their dielectric loss spectra are dominated by a structural relaxation, which originates from the cooperative reorientation of entire molecules and exhibits an excess wing on its high-frequency slope. This feature has been attributed to the Johari-Goldstein (JG) process. Each investigated compound exhibits also at least one intramolecular secondary non-JG relaxation stemming from conformational changes. Their activation energies range from approximately 19 kJ/mol to roughly 40 kJ/mol. Finally, we analyze the high-pressure molecular dynamics of compound 1, revealing a pressure-induced increase in its Tg with a dTg/dp coefficient equal to 197 ± 8 K/GPa.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Unsaturated Thiacrown Ethers Possessing Sulfonium Groups

Thiacrown ethers have attracted much attention in host-guest chemistry. Herein, we present the polymethylation reactions of unsaturated thiacrown ethers. Unsaturated thiacrown ethers having sulfonium groups were synthesized by the reaction of corresponding unsaturated thiacrown ethers with methyl triflate. The obtained methylated unsaturated thiacrown ethers were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, UV absorption measurement, and cyclic voltammetry. The occupied and unoccupied molecular orbitals of the obtained methylated unsaturated thiacrown ethers are essentially localized respectively around the sulfide groups and the sulfonium groups. Furthermore, the results of electrostatic potential maps indicated that positive charges were distributed throughout the entire unsaturated thiacrown ether moieties.

Pillararenes: fascinating planar chiral macrocyclic arenes

Chiral macrocycles possess significant value in chiral science and supramolecular chemistry. Pillararenes, as a class of relatively young supramolecular macrocyclic hosts, have been widely used for host-guest recognition and self-assembly. Since the position of substituents on the benzene rings breaks the molecular symmetry (symmetric plane and symmetric center), pillararenes possess planar chirality. However, it is a great challenge to synthesize stable and resolvable enantiomers because of the easy rotation of the phenylene group. In this review, we summarize the construction methods of resolvable chiral pillararenes. We also focus on their applications in enantioselective recognition, chiral switches, chirality sensing, asymmetric catalysis, circularly polarized luminescence, metal-organic frameworks, and highly permeable membranes. Finally, we discuss the future research perspectives in this field of pillararene-based planar chiral materials. We hope that this review will encourage more researchers to work in this exciting field.

Influence of the Reaction Sequence on the Complexation of an NS4-Macrocycle with CdII and CuI Salts Leading to the Formation of Supramolecular Isomers and an Endo/Exocyclic CuI Complex

In the construction of metallosupramolecules, the reaction sequence in a three-reactant system (one ligand plus two metal ions) could be one of the controlling factors influencing the outcome of the reaction. In this work, the formation of supramolecular isomers (1 and 2) and an endo/exocyclic Cu⁺ complex (4) of the NS₄-macrocycle (L) via different sequential metal addition protocols (routes I-III) is reported. In one-pot reactions of L with Cu(CH₃CN)₄PF₆ in the absence (route I) and presence (route II) of CdI₂, a cyclic dimer Cu^I complex, [Cu₂(L)₂](PF₆)₂ (1), and a one-dimensional coordination polymer, [Cu₂(L)₂]_n·n[CdI₄] (2), were obtained, respectively. Interestingly, the complex cations in 1 and 2 are supramolecular isomers formed via cyclization and polymerization upon complexation, respectively, probably due to different geometric and electronic complementarities, via the C-H···X^- hydrogen bonds, between L and the counterion. In the two-step reaction (route III), an endocyclic Cd²⁺ complex, [Cd(L)I₂] (3), obtained in the first step was utilized in the following reaction with Cu(CH₃CN)₄PF₆, giving rise to an endo/exocyclic tetranuclear Cu⁺ complex, [Cu₄(L)₂(CH₃CN)₆](PF₆)₄ (4), via Cd²⁺ → 2Cu⁺ substitution, which is not accessible by conventional procedures. Solution studies by comparative NMR and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy also support metal substitution by showing the stronger binding affinity of Cu⁺ over Cd²⁺. These results demonstrate that the metal substitution protocol could be useful for reaching novel metallosupramolecules difficult to obtain by other methods.

Influence of anions and mole ratio on the formation of 2-D coordination networks of thiacalix[4]-bis-monothiacrown-5

Anion and mole-ratio dependent formation of 2-D coordination polymers of thiacalix[4]-bis-monothiacrown-5 incorporating sulfur bridges in the rim and a sulfur donor in the crown loop is reported.

Conformational analysis and molecular dynamics of glass-forming aromatic thiacrown ethers

The dielectric properties, glass transition temperature and molecular dynamics of thiacrown ethers are strongly dependent on the thiacrown ring type.

Pillararenes as macrocyclic hosts: a rising star in metal ion separation

Pillararenes are macrocyclic oligomers of alkoxybenzene akin to calixarenes but tethered at the 2,5-positions via methylene bridges. Benefiting from their unique pillar-shaped architecture favorable for diverse functionalization and versatile host-guest properties, pillararenes decorated with chelating groups worked excellently as supporting platforms to construct extractants or adsorbents for metal ion separation. This feature article provides a detailed summary of pillararenes in Ln/An separation by liquid-liquid extraction and heavy metal separation by solid-liquid extraction. The preorganization effect of the rigid pillararene framework has a profound impact on the extraction of metal ions, and a unique extraction mechanism is observed when employing ionic liquids as solvents. The rich host-guest chemistry of pillararenes enables construction of a wide variety of supramolecular materials as metal ion adsorbents. We also discuss the differences between pillararenes and several well-known macrocycles, with a focus on the metal-ligand coordination and its influencing factors. We hope this review will provide useful information and unleash new opportunities in this field.

Ring-to-Cage Structural Conversion via Template Effect in a Gold(I) Metallosupramolecular System

A unique example of a ring-to-cage structural conversion in a multinuclear gold(I) coordination system with d-penicillamine (d-H2 pen) is reported. The reaction of [Au2 Cl2 (dppe)] (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) with d-H2 pen in a 1:1 ratio gave [Au4 (dppe)2 (d-pen)2 ] ([1]), in which two [Au2 (dppe)]2+ units are linked by two d-pen S atoms in a cyclic form so as to have two bidentate-N,O coordination arms. The subsequent reaction of [1] with Cu(OTf)2 afforded [Au4 Cu(dppe)2 (d-pen)2 ]2+ ([2]2+ ), in which a CuII ion is chelated by the two coordination arms in [1] to form an AuI4 CuII bicyclic metallocage. A similar reaction using Cu(NO3 )2 was accompanied by the ring expansion of [1] to [Au8 (dppe)4 (d-pen)4 ], leading to the production of [Au8 Cu2 (dppe)4 (d-pen)4 ]4+ ([3]4+ ). In [3]4+ , two CuII ions are each chelated by the two coordination arms to form an AuI8 CuII2 tricyclic metallocage, accommodating a nitrate ion. The use of Ni(NO3 )2 or Ni(OAc)2 instead of Cu(NO3 )2 commonly gave a tricyclic metallocage of [Au8 Ni2 (dppe)4 (d-pen)4 ]4+ ([4]4+ ), but a water molecule was accommodated inside the AuI8 NiII2 metallocage.

Endocyclic and Endo–Exocyclic Silver(I) Complexes of Thiaoxaaza Macrocycles: Crystallographic and NMR Studies

A comparative investigation of the coordination behaviour of a 19-membered NO2S2-macrocycle (L1) and a 20-membered NO2S3-macrocycle (L2) is reported. On silver(i) complexation, L1 yields a discrete endocyclic mononuclear complex, whereas L2 affords a one-dimensional coordination polymer in which the endo-coordinated macrocyclic complex units are linked by silver(i) ions outside the cavity via endo–exo-coordination. The larger ring cavity along with the flexible nature of L2 may induce the weaker endocyclic complexation and contribute to exocyclic coordination as well. In NMR titration studies for the corresponding complex system, however, no evidence of exocyclic coordination was observed. Instead, L1 and L2 form a stable endocyclic 1 : 1 silver(i) nitrate complex, with a higher affinity for the former ligand.

The assembly of “S3N”-ligands decorated with an azo-dye as potential sensors for heavy metal ions

The synthesis and complexation of azo dye-S₃N crown conjugates with Ag(i), Cu(ii) and Hg(ii) is described.

A double decker type complex: copper(i) iodide complexation with mixed donor macrocycles via [1 : 1] and [2 : 2] cyclisations

19-membered and a 38-membered macrocycles obtained as a mixture via respective [1 : 1] and [2 : 2] cyclisations were separated and their coordination behaviours with copper(i) iodide were investigated. One of the notable products isolated is a tetranuclear bis(macrocycle) complex with the larger macrocycle adopting a double decker type structure. Furthermore, removal of the lattice solvent molecules in the above complex in air motivates the displacement of the double decker units along the a-axis by sliding in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal manner.

Influence of Anion and Mole Ratio on the Coordination Behavior of an NO2S3-Macrocycle: The Formation of a Dumbbell-Shaped Macrocyclic Cadmium(II) Iodide Complex

Anion and mole ratio dependent formations of cadmium(II) complexes with an NO2S3-macrocycle (L) incorporating a pyridine subunit are reported. When the cadmium(II) salts (1-10 equiv) with different halide ions (Br(-) or I(-)) were reacted with L, CdBr2 afforded a monomer complex, [Cd(L)Br]2[Cd2Br6]·CH2Cl2 (1), with three separated parts in the whole mole ratio range: two 1:1 stoichiometric complex cation parts and one Cd2Br6 cluster anion part. After separation of 1 by filtration, [Cd(L)Br]2[CdBr4]·CH2Cl2 (2) with similar composition was afforded, except the cluster was isolated from the filtrate. Unlike the CdBr2 complexation, CdI2 afforded the mole ratio dependent products (3-5). Below 2.5 equiv of CdI2, [Cd(L)I]2[CdI4]·CH2Cl2 (3) and [Cd(L)I]2[Cd2I6]·0.5CH2Cl2 (4) with different cadmium(II) iodide clusters were isolated as kinetic (3) and a thermodynamic (4) products. Notably, the use of 3 equiv or above amount of CdI2 gave a dumbbell-shaped complex, {[Cd(L)]2(μ-Cd4I12)} (5), in which two mononuclear macrocyclic complex units are linked by a (μ-Cd4I12)(4-) cluster. To monitor the mole ratio dependency as well as their reactivities, the systematic powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis has also been applied.

Neutral thioether and selenoether macrocyclic coordination to Group 1 cations (Li-Cs) - synthesis, spectroscopic and structural properties

The complexes [M(L)][BAr(F)] (BAr(F) = tetrakis{3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl}borate), L = [18]aneO4S2 (1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-dithiacyclooctadecane): M = Li-Cs; L = [18]aneO2S4 (1,10-dioxa-4,7,13,16-tetrathiacyclooctadecane): M = Li, Na, K; L = [18]aneO4Se2 (1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diselenacyclooctadecane): M = Na, K, as well as [Na(18-crown-6)][BAr(F)], are obtained in good yield as crystalline solids by reaction of M[BAr(F)] with the appropriate macrocycle in dry CH2Cl2. X-ray crystallographic analyses of [Li([18]aneO4S2)][BAr(F)] and [Li([18]aneO2S4)][BAr(F)] show discrete distorted octahedral cations with hexadentate coordination to the macrocycle. The heavier alkali metal complexes all contain hexadentate coordination of the heterocrown, supplemented by MF interactions via the anions, producing extended structures with higher coordination numbers; Na: CN = 7 or 8; K: CN = 8; Rb: CN = 9; Cs: CN = 8 or 10. Notably, all of the structures exhibit significant M-S/Se coordination. The crystal structures of the potassium and rubidium complexes show two distinct [M(heterocrown)](+) cations, one with MF interactions to two mutually cis [BAr(F)](-) anions, and the other with mutually trans [BAr(F)](-) anions, giving 1D chain polymers. Solution multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C, (7)Li, (23)Na, (133)Cs) NMR data show that the macrocyclic coordination is retained in CH2Cl2 solution.