The first complex of the pentameric phosphazane macrocycle [{P(μ-NtBu)}2(μ-NH)]5 with a neutral molecular guest: Synthesis and structure of [{P(μ-NtBu)}2(μ-NH)]5(CH2Cl2)2

Main Group Molecular Switches with Swivel Bifurcated to Trifurcated Hydrogen Bond Mode of Action

Artificial molecular machines have captured the full attention of the scientific community since Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart, and Ben Feringa were awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The past and current developments in molecular machinery (rotaxanes, rotors, and switches) primarily rely on organic-based compounds as molecular building blocks for their assembly and future development. In contrast, the main group chemical space has not been traditionally part of the molecular machine domain. The oxidation states and valency ranges within the p-block provide a tremendous wealth of structures with various chemical properties. Such chemical diversity─when implemented in molecular machines─could become a transformative force in the field. Within this context, we have rationally designed a series of NH-bridged acyclic dimeric cyclodiphosphazane species, [(μ-NH){PE(μ-N^tBu)₂PE(NH^tBu)}₂] (E = O and S), bis-P^V₂N₂, displaying bimodal bifurcated R²₁(8) and trifurcated R³₁(8,8) hydrogen bonding motifs. The reported species reversibly switch their topological arrangement in the presence and absence of anions. Our results underscore these species as versatile building blocks for molecular machines and switches, as well as supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering based on cyclophosphazane frameworks.

Pre-arranged building block approach for the orthogonal synthesis of an unfolded tetrameric organic-inorganic phosphazane macrocycle

Inorganic macrocycles remain challenging synthetic targets due to the limited number of strategies reported for their syntheses. Among these species, large fully inorganic cyclodiphosphazane macrocycles have been experimentally and theoretically highlighted as promising candidates for supramolecular chemistry. In contrast, their hybrid organic-inorganic counterparts are lagging behind due to the lack of synthetic routes capable of controlling the size and topological arrangement (i.e., folded vs unfolded) of the target macrocycle, rendering the synthesis of differently sized macrocycles a tedious screening process. Herein, we report-as a proof-of-concept-the combination of pre-arranged building blocks and a two-step synthetic route to rationally enable access a large unfolded tetrameric macrocycle, which is not accessible via conventional synthetic strategies. The obtained macrocycle hybrid cyclodiphosphazane macrocycle, cis-[μ-P(μ-NtBu)]2(μ-p-OC6H4C(O)O)]4[μ-P(μ-NtBu)]2 (4), displays an unfolded open-face cavity area of 110.1 Å2. Preliminary theoretical host-guest studies with the dication [MeNC5H4]22+ suggest compound 4 as a viable candidate for the synthesis of hybrid proto-rotaxanes species based on phosphazane building blocks.

Mechanochemical Rearrangements

Molecular rearrangements are a powerful tool for constructing complex structures in an atom- and step-economic manner, translating multistep transformations into an intrinsically more sustainable process. Mechanochemical molecular rearrangements become an even more appealing eco-friendly synthetic approach, especially for preparing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and natural products. Still in their infancy, rearrangements promoted by mechanochemistry represent a promising approach for chemists to merge molecular diversity and green chemistry perspectives toward more selective and efficient syntheses with a reduced environmental footprint.

Size-control in the synthesis of oxo-bridged phosphazane macrocycles via a modular addition approach

Inorganic macrocycles remain largely underdeveloped compared with their organic counterparts due to the challenges involved in their synthesis. Among them, cyclodiphosphazane macrocycles have shown to be promising candidates for supramolecular chemistry applications due to their ability to encapsulate small molecules or ions within their cavities. However, further developments have been handicapped by the lack of synthetic routes to high-order cyclodiphosphazane macrocycles. Moreover, current approaches allow little control over the size of the macrocycles formed. Here we report the synthesis of high-order oxygen-bridged phosphazane macrocycles via a "3 + n cyclisation" (n = 1 and 3). Using this method, an all-P^III high-order hexameric cyclodiphosphazane macrocycle was isolated, displaying a larger macrocyclic cavity than comparable organic crown-ethers. Our approach demonstrates that increasing building block complexity enables precise control over macrocycle size, which will not only generate future developments in both the phosphazane and main group chemistry but also in the fields of supramolecular chemistry.

N-Bridged Acyclic Trimeric Poly-Cyclodiphosphazanes: Highly Tuneable Cyclodiphosphazane Building Blocks

We have synthesized a completely new family of acyclic trimeric cyclodiphosphazane compounds comprising NH, Nⁱ Pr, N^t Bu and NPh bridging groups. In addition, the first NH-bridged acyclic dimeric cyclophosphazane has been produced. The trimeric species display highly tuneable characteristics so that the distance between the terminal N(H)R moieties can be readily modulated by the steric bulk present in the bridging groups (ranging from ≈6 to ≈10 Å). Moreover, these species exhibit pronounced topological changes when a weak non-bonding NH⋅⋅⋅π aryl interaction is introduced. Finally, the NH-bridged chloride binding affinities have been calculated and benchmarked along with the existing experimental data available for monomeric cyclodiphosphazanes. Our results underscore these species as promising hydrogen bond donors for supramolecular host-guest applications.

Synthesis of Unique Phosphazane Macrocycles via Steric Activation of C-N Bonds

Herein we describe that oxidation reactions of the dimeric cyclophosphazanes, [{P(μ-NR)}₂(μ-NR)]₂, R = ^tBu (1), to produce a series of diagonally dioxidized products P₄(μ-N ^tBu)₆E₂ [E = O (2), S (3), and Se (4)] and tetraoxidized frameworks. The latter display an unexpected C-N bond activation and cleavage to produce a series of novel phosphazane macrocyclic arrangements containing newly formed N-H bonds. Macromolecules P₄(μ-N ^tBu)₄(μ-NH)₂O₄ (5) and P₄(μ-N ^tBu)₃(μ-NH)₃E₄, E = S (6) and Se (7), dicleaved and tricleaved products, respectively, are rare examples of dimeric macrocycles containing NH bridging groups. Our theoretical and experimental studies illustrate that the extent to which these C-N bonds are cleaved can be controlled by modification of steric parameters in their synthesis, by adjusting either the steric bulk of the substituents in the parent framework or the size of the chalcogen element introduced during the oxidation process. Our findings represent new synthetic pathways for the synthesis of otherwise-elusive macrocycle arrangements within the phosphazane family.

Steric C–N bond activation on the dimeric macrocycle [{P(μ-NR)}2(μ-NR)]2

The dimeric macrocyclophosphazane [{P(μ-N^tBu)}₂(μ-N^tBu)]₂ ( 1) was reacted with elemental selenium. An unexpected C–N cleavage reaction occurred producing P₄(μ-N^tBu)₃(μ-NH)₃Se₄ ( 2). The C–N bond cleavage is driven by the high steric ring strain present within the ring.