Isomeric Molecular Rectangles Resulting from Self-Assembly of Dicopper Complexes of Macrocyclic Ligands

Self-assembled tetragonal prismatic molecular cage highly selective for anionic π guests

The metal-directed supramolecular synthetic approach has paved the way for the development of functional nanosized molecules. In this work, we report the preparation of the new nanocapsule 3·(CF(3)SO(3))(8) with a A(4 B(2) tetragonal prismatic geometry, where A corresponds to the dipalladium hexaazamacrocyclic complex Pd-1, and B corresponds to the tetraanionic form of palladium 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (2). The large void space of the inner cavity and the supramolecular affinity for guest molecules towards porphyrin-based hosts converts this nanoscale molecular 3D structure into a good candidate for host-guest chemistry. The interaction between this nanocage and different guest molecules has been studied by means of NMR, UV/Vis, ESI-MS, and DOSY experiments, from which highly selective molecular recognition has been found for anionic, planar-shaped π guests with association constants (K(a)) higher than 10(9) M(-1) , in front of non-interacting aromatic neutral or cationic substrates. DFT theoretical calculations provided insights to further understand this strong interaction. Nanocage 3·(CF(3)SO(3))(8) can not only strongly host one single molecule of M(dithiolene)(2) complexes (M=Au, Pt, Pd, and Ni), but also can finely tune their optical and redox properties. The very simple synthesis of both the supramolecular cage and the building blocks represents a step forward for the development of polyfunctional supramolecular nanovessels, which offer multiple applications as sensors or nanoreactors.

Synthesis of New Self-assembled PdII and PtII Rectangular Metallomacrocycles: A Comparative Study of their Inclusion Complexes

New palladium and platinum metallocycles have been synthesized by reacting 4,4'-bipyridinium-based ligands with PdII and PtII complexes. Strict thermodynamic self-assembly of 1 and [M(en)(NO3)2] (M=Pd, Pt) 6 a,b afforded metallocycles 7 a,b. However, the synthesis of 8 a,b and 9 a,b required a self-assembly process that used sodium p-phenylenediacetate (12) as a template. Finally, metallocycles 10 a,b were synthesized under high dilution conditions from ligand 4. The formation of inclusion complexes between metallocycles 7-10 and substrates 13 and 14 were studied by low-temperature 1H NMR, and the association constants were determined in nitromethane and water by following the characteristic charge-transfer band that these metallomacrocycles show in their UV-visible absorption spectra. A clear correlation between the affinity for a substrate and the dimensions of the metallocycle was observed. Metallocycles 8 b and 9 b exhibited the highest binding constants in water and nitromethane. This observation is in agreement with the DFT (B3LYP)-optimized geometries obtained for the different metallomacrocycles, which indicate that only macrocycles 8 and 9 possess a cavity with a width larger than 3.5 A. The insertion of hydroquinone or diol 13 into the cavity of metallocycle 11 a was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.

Copper(II), Cobalt(II), and Nickel(II) Complexes with a Bulky Anthracene-Based Carboxylic Ligand: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, and Magnetic Properties

To systematically explore the influence of the bulky aromatic ring skeleton with a large conjugated pi-system on the structures and properties of their complexes, six CuII, CoII, and NiII complexes with the anthracene-based carboxylic ligand anthracene-9-carboxylic acid (HL1), were synthesized and characterized, sometimes incorporating different auxiliary ligands: [Cu2(L1)4(CH3OH)2](CH3OH) (1), [Cu4(L1)6(L2)4](NO3)2(H2O)2 (2), {[Cu2(L1)4(L3)](CH3OH)0.25}infinity (3), [Co2(L1)4(L4)2(micro-H2O)](CH3OH) (4), {[Co(L1)2(L5)(CH3OH)2]}infinity (5), and {[Ni(L1)2(L5)(CH3OH)2]}infinity (6) (L2 = 2,2'-bipyridine, L3 = 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, L4 = 1,10-phenanthroline, and L5 = 4,4'-bipyridine). 1 has a dinuclear structure that is further assembled to form a one-dimensional (1D) chain and then a two-dimensional (2D) network by the C-H...O H-bonding and pi...pi stacking interactions jointly. 2 takes a tetranuclear structure due to the existence of the chelating L2 ligand. 3 possesses a 1D chain structure by incorporating the related auxiliary ligand L3, which is further interlinked via interchain pi...pi stacking, resulting in a three-dimensional (3D) network. 4 also has a dinuclear structure and then forms a higher-dimensional supramolecular network through intermolecular pi...pi stacking and/or C-H...pi interactions. 5 and 6 are isostructural complexes, except they involve different metal ions, showing 1D chain structures, which are also assembled into 2D networks from the different crystallographic directions by interchain pi...pi stacking and C-H...pi interactions, respectively. The results reveal that the steric bulk of the anthracene ring in HL1 plays an important role in the formation of 1-6. The magnetic properties of the complexes were investigated, and the very long intermetallic distances result in weak magnetic coupling, with the exception of 1 and 3, which adopt the typical paddle-wheel structure of copper acetate and are thus strongly coupled.