A double-stranded 1D-coordination polymer assembled using the tetravergent ligand 1,1′-bis(4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridin-4′-yl)ferrocene

Stars and stripes: hexatopic tris(3,2':6',3''-terpyridine) ligands that unexpectedly form one-dimensional coordination polymers

The hexatopic ligands 1,3,5-tris(4,2':6',4''-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene (1), 1,3,5-tris(3,2':6',3''-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene (2), 1,3,5-tris{4-(4,2':6',4''-terpyridin-4'-yl)phenyl}benzene (3), 1,3,5-tris{4-(3,2':6',3''-terpyridin-4'-yl)phenyl}benzene (4) and 1,3,5-trimethyl-2,4,6-tris{4-(3,2':6',3''-terpyridin-4'-yl)phenyl}benzene (5) have been prepared and characterized. The single crystal structure of 1·1.75DMF was determined; 1 exhibits a propeller-shaped geometry with each of the three 4,2':6',4''-tpy domains being crystallographically independent. Packing of molecules of 1 is dominated by face-to-face π-stacking interactions which is consistent with the low solubility of 1 in common organic solvents. Reaction of 5 with [Cu(hfacac)2]·H2O (Hhfacac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dione) under conditions of crystal growth by layering resulted in the formation of [Cu3(hfacac)6(5)] n ·2.8nC7H8·0.4nCHCl3. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals an unusual 1D-coordination polymer consisting of a series of alternating single and double loops. Each of the three crystallographically independent Cu atoms is octahedrally sited with cis-arrangements two N-donors from two different ligands 1 and, therefore, cis-arrangements of coordinated [hfacac]- ligands; this observation is unusual among compounds in the Cambridge Structural Database containing {Cu(hfacac)2N2} coordination units in which the two N-donors are in a non-chelating ligand.

Isomers of Terpyridine as Ligands in Coordination Polymers and Networks Containing Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II)

The use of divergent 4,2′:6′,4″- and 3,2′:6′,3″-terpyridine ligands as linkers and/or nodes in extended coordination assemblies has gained in popularity over the last decade. However, there is also a range of coordination polymers which feature 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine metal-binding domains. Of the remaining 45 isomers of terpyridine, few have been utilized in extended coordination arrays. Here, we provide an overview of coordination polymers and networks containing isomers of terpyridine and either zinc(II) and cadmium(II). Although the motivation for investigations of many of these systems is their luminescent behavior, we have chosen to focus mainly on structural details, and we assess to what extent assemblies are reproducible. We also consider cases where there is structural evidence for competitive product formation. A point that emerges is the lack of systematic investigations.

Trinodal Self-Penetrating Nets from Reactions of 1,4-Bis(alkoxy)-2,5-bis(3,2’:6’,3’’-terpyridin-4’-yl)benzene Ligands with Cobalt(II) Thiocyanate

The tetratopic ligands 1,4-bis(2-ethylbutoxy)-2,5-bis(3,2’:6’,3’’-terpyridin-4’-yl)benzene (1) and 1,4-bis(3-methylbutoxy)-2,5-bis(3,2’:6’,3’’-terpyridin-4’-yl)benzene (2) have been prepared and characterized by 1H and 13C{1H} NMR, IR, and absorption spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. Reactions of 1 and 2 with cobalt(II) thiocyanate under conditions of crystal growth at room temperature result in the formation of [{Co(1)(NCS)2}·MeOH·3CHCl3]n and [{Co(2)(NCS)2}·0.8MeOH·1.8CHCl3]n. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that each crystal lattice consists of a trinodal self-penetrating (62.84)(64.82)(65.8)2 net. The nodes are defined by two independent cobalt centres and the centroids of two crystallographically independent ligands which are topologically equivalent.

4,2':6',4"- and 3,2':6',3"-Terpyridines: The Conflict between Well-Defined Vectorial Properties and Serendipity in the Assembly of 1D-, 2D- and 3D-Architectures

A comparative investigation of the coordination assemblies formed between Co(NCS)₂ and two monotopic 4,2':6',4''-terpyridine (4,2':6',4"-tpy) ligands or two related ditopic ligands is reported. Crystals were grown by layering MeOH solutions of Co(NCS)₂ over a CHCl₃ or 1,2-C₆H₄Cl₂ solution of the respective ligand at room temperature. With 4'-(2-methylpyrimidin-5-yl)-4,2':6',4"-terpyridine (6), the 1D-coordination polymer {[Co₂(NCS)₄(MeOH)₄(6)₂]∙2MeOH∙8H₂O}n assembles with 6 coordinating only through the outer N-donors of the 4,2':6',4"-tpy unit; coordination by the MeOH solvent blocks two cobalt coordination sites preventing propagation in a higher-dimensional network. A combination of Co(NCS)₂ and 1-(4,2':6',4"-terpyridin-4'-yl)ferrocene (7) leads to {[Co(NCS)₂(7)₂]∙4CHCl₃}n which contains a (4,4) net; the 2D-sheets associate through π-stacking interactions between ferrocenyl and pyridyl units. A 3D-framework is achieved through use of the ditopic ligand 1,4-bis(npropoxy)-2,5-bis(4,2':6',4"-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene (8) which acts as a 4-connecting node in {[Co(NCS)₂(8)₂].2C₆H₄Cl₂}n; the combination of metal and ligand planar 4-connecting nodes results in a {6⁵.8} cds net. For a comparison with the coordinating abilities of the previously reported 1,4-bis(noctoxy)-2,5-bis(4,2':6',4"-terpyridin-4'-yl)benzene (3), a more flexible analogue 9 was prepared. {[Co(NCS)₂(9)]∙2CHCl₃}n contains a (4,4) net defined by both metal and ligand planar 4-connecting nodes. The noctoxy tails of 9 protrude from each side of the (4,4) net and thread through adjacent sheets; the arene-attached noctoxy chains associate through a combination of van der Waals and C-H...π interactions.

Coordination Behaviour of 1-(4,2′:6′,4′′-terpyridin-4′-yl)ferrocene and 1-(3,2′:6′,3′′-terpyridin-4′-yl)ferrocene: Predictable and Unpredictable Assembly Algorithms

The reaction of 1-(4,2′:6′,4″-terpyridin-4′-yl)ferrocene (2) with ZnI2 leads to [{ZnI2(2)}4·1.4MeOH·0.8H2O] which contains a discrete [4+4] metallocycle. Crystal growth experiments demonstrate that reactions of 2 with Zn(OAc)2 or CuCl2 result in the formation of single- or double-stranded 1D polymer chains, respectively, the latter facilitated by the formation of {Cu2Cl4} dinuclear nodes. While both 2 and its isomer 1-(3,2′:6′,3″-terpyridin-4′-yl)ferrocene (3) present V-shaped donor sets, rotation about interannular bonds in 3 generates flexible vectorial properties associated with limiting convergent and divergent orientations of the nitrogen donors. The synthesis and characterisation of 3 are described as are reactions of 3 with ZnCl2 or ZnBr2 which lead, respectively, to a metallosquare in [{ZnCl2(3)}4·3CHCl3·3MeOH] or a helical polymer in [{ZnBr2(3)}·MeOH]n. The tight pitch of the helix in the latter (8.7879(9) Å) is controlled by a combination of the orientations of the N,N″-donor sets in 3, and intra-chain π-stacking interactions involving ferrocenyl and pyridine units.