Circular Heterochiral Titanium-Based Self-Assembled Architectures

Circular trinuclear helicates have been synthesized from a bis-biphenol strand (LH4), titanium isopropoxide, and various diimine ligands. These self-assembled architectures constructed around three TiO4N2 nodes have a heterochiral structure (C1 symmetry) when 2,2'-bipyridine (A), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine (B), 4,4'-bromo-2,2'-bipyridine (C), or 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyrimidine (D) is employed. Within these complexes, one nitrogen ligand is endo-positioned inside the metallo-macrocycle, whereas the other two diimine ligands point outside the helicate framework. This investigation highlights that the nitrogen ligand which does not participate in the helicate framework of the complex controls the overall symmetry of the helicate since the 2,2'-bipyrimidine chelate (F) ends in the formation of a homochiral aggregate (C3 symmetry). The lack of symmetry found in the solid state for the trinuclear species ([Ti3L3(B)3], [Ti3L3(C)3], and [Ti3L3(D)3]) is observed for these complexes in solution (dichloromethane or chloroform). Remarkably, the 2,2'-bipyrazine ligand (ligand E) ends in the formation of a hexameric aggregate formulated as [Ti6L6(E)6], whereas the use of 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyrimidine (ligand D) permits to generate the dinuclear complexes ([Ti2L(D)2(OiPr)4] and [Ti2L2(D)2]) in addition to the trimeric structure [Ti3L3(D)3]. The behavior of [Ti3L3(A)3] in solution, on the other hand, is unique since an equilibrium between the homochiral and the heterochiral form is reached within 17 days after the complex has been dissolved in dichloromethane (C3-[Ti3L3(A)3]/C1-[Ti3L3(A)3] ratio = 0.3). In chloroform, the heterochiral form of [Ti3L3(A)3] is stable for the same period of time, evidencing the dependence of this stereochemical transformation toward the solvent medium. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters linked to this stereochemical equilibrium have been obtained and point to the fact that the transformation is intramolecular and not induced by the presence of external ligands. The thermodynamic constant of the C1-[Ti3L3(A)3]/C3-[Ti3L3(A)3] equilibrium is found to be K = 0.34 ± 10%. Further evidence to rationalize this solvent-induced symmetry switch is obtained via a DFT calculation and classical molecular dynamics. In particular, this computational investigation elucidates the reason why the stereochemical transformation of a heterochiral architecture into a homochiral structure is possible only for a trinuclear assembly containing ligand A.

Nickel, copper, and zinc dinuclear helicates: how do bulky groups influence their architecture?

The ligand design factors that may influence the isolation of metallosupramolecular helicates or mesocates still deserve to be investigated. In this sense, dinuclear nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) compounds were obtained by electrochemical synthesis using a family of five Schiff base ligands, H2Ln (n = 1-5), derived from bisphenylmethane and functionalized with bulky tert-butyl groups in the periphery and ethyl groups in the spacer. Six of the new complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, thus demonstrating that the helicate structure is predominant in the solid state. 1H NMR studies were performed for the zinc complexes to analyze if the helical architecture of the metal complexes is retained in solution. These studies reveal that the presence of a tert-butyl group in the ortho position with respect to the OH group is an essential factor identified for the existence of a helicate conformation in solution.

Schiff Bases Functionalized with T-Butyl Groups as Adequate Ligands to Extended Assembly of Cu(II) Helicates

The study of the inherent factors that influence the isolation of one type of metallosupramolecular architecture over another is one of the main objectives in the field of Metallosupramolecular Chemistry. In this work, we report two new neutral copper(II) helicates, [Cu₂(L¹)₂]·4CH₃CN and [Cu₂(L²)₂]·CH₃CN, obtained by means of an electrochemical methodology and derived from two Schiff-based strands functionalized with ortho and para-t-butyl groups on the aromatic surface. These small modifications let us explore the relationship between the ligand design and the structure of the extended metallosupramolecular architecture. The magnetic properties of the Cu(II) helicates were explored by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and Direct Current (DC) magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Sterics and metal-ion radius control the self-assembly of [M2L3] helicates

The interplay of many factors influences the outcomes of self-assembly reactions. Using an acetylene-appended quaterpyridine ligand we show that both the size of the metal ion and the presence of steric repulsion between the acetylene groups result in the exclusive formation of [M₂L₃] helicates rather than a helicate/tetrahedron equilibrium.

An interconverting family of coordination cages and a meso-helicate; effects of temperature, concentration, and solvent on the product distribution of a self-assembly process

The self-assembly between a water-soluble bis-bidentate ligand L(18w) and Co(II) salts in water affords three high-spin Co(II) products: a dinuclear meso-helicate [Co2(L(18w))3]X4; a tetrahedral cage [Co4(L(18w))6]X8; and a dodecanuclear truncated-tetrahedral cage [Co12(L(18w))18]X24 (X = BF4 or ClO4). All three products were crystallized under different conditions and structurally characterized. In [Co2(L(18w))3]X4 all three bridging ligands span a pair of metal ions; in the two larger products, there is a metal ion at each vertex of the Co4 or Co12 polyhedral cage array with a bridging ligand spanning a pair of metal ions along every edge. All three structural types are known: what is unusual here is the presence of all three from the same reaction. The assemblies Co2, Co4, and Co12 are in slow equilibrium (hours/days) in aqueous solution, and this can be conveniently monitored by (1)H NMR spectroscopy because (i) the paramagnetism of Co(II) disperses the signals over a range of ca. 200 ppm and (ii) the different symmetries of the three species give characteristically different numbers of independent (1)H NMR signals, which makes identification easy. From temperature- and concentration-dependent (1)H NMR studies it is clear that increasing temperature and increasing dilution favors fragmentation to give a larger proportion of the smaller assemblies for entropic reasons. High concentrations and low temperature favor the larger assembly despite the unfavorable entropic and electrostatic factors associated with its formation. We suggest that this arises from the hydrophobic effect: reorganization of several smaller complexes into one larger one results in a smaller proportion of the hydrophobic ligand surface being exposed to water, with a larger proportion of the ligand surface protected in the interior of the assembly. In agreement with this, (1)H NMR spectra in a nonaqueous solvent (MeNO2) show formation of only [Co2(L(18w))3]X4 because the driving force for reorganization into larger assemblies is now absent. Thus, we can identify the contributions of temperature, concentration, and solvent on the result of the metal/ligand self-assembly process and have determined the speciation behavior of the Co2/Co4/Co12 system in aqueous solution.

Self-assembly of a heteroleptic one-dimensional chain comprising different dinuclear meso-helicates in the solid-state

We describe two mesocate assemblies that contain either an ethylene glycol or ammonium group which form a heteroleptic one-dimensional infinite chain in the solid state.

Localization and Delocalization in a Mixed-Valence Dicopper Helicate

The coordination chemistry of the tetradentate pyridyl-thiazole (py-tz) N-donor ligand 6,6'-bis(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (L1) has been investigated. Reaction of L1 with equimolar copper(II) ions results in the formation of the single-stranded mononuclear complex [Cu(L1)(ClO4)2] (1), whereas reaction with copper(I) ions results in the double-stranded dinuclear helicate [Cu2(L1)2][PF6]2 (2). Both complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (as well as 1H NMR spectroscopy for diamagnetic 2). Complex 2 is redox-active and, upon one-electron oxidation, forms the stable tricationic mixed-valence helicate [Cu2(L1)2]3+ (3). This species can also be prepared in situ by combining [Cu(MeCN)4][BF4], [Cu(H2O)6][BF4]2, and L1 in a 1:1:2 ratio in nitromethane. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 3 provides structural evidence for the presence of an internuclear Cu-Cu bond, with an even distribution of spin density across the two Cu centers. Room-temperature UV-vis spectroscopy is consistent with this finding; however, frozen-glass EPR spectroscopic investigations suggest solvatochromic behavior at 110 K, with the [Cu2]3+ core varying from localized to delocalized depending on the solvent polarity.

Polynuclear lanthanide complexes of a series of bridging ligands containing two tridentate N,N′,O-donor units: structures and luminescence properties

A set of three potentially bridging ligands containing two tridentate chelating N,N',O-donor (pyrazole-pyridine-amide) donors separated by an o, m, or p-phenylene spacer has been prepared and their coordination chemistry with lanthanide(III) ions investigated. Ligand L(1) (p-phenylene spacer) forms complexes with a 2:3 M:L ratio according to the proportions used in the reaction mixture; the Ln(2)(L(1))(3) complexes contain two 9-coordinate Ln(III) centres with all three bridging ligands spanning both metal ions, and have a cylindrical (non-helical) 'mesocate' architecture. The 1:1 complexes display a range of structural types depending on the conditions used, including a cyclic Ln(4)(L(1))(4) tetranuclear helicate, a Ln(2)(L(1))(2) dinuclear mesocate, and an infinite one-dimensional coordination polymer in which metal ions and bridging ligands alternate along the sequence. ESMS studies indicate that the 1:1 complexes form a mixture of oligonuclear species {Ln(L(1))}(n) in solution (n up to 5) which are likely to be cyclic helicates. In contrast, ligands L(2) and L(3) (with o- and m-phenylene spacers, respectively) generally form dinuclear Ln(2)L(2) Ln(III) complexes in which the two ligands may be arranged in a helical or non-helical architecture about the two metal ions. These complexes also contain an additional exogenous bidentate bridging ligand, either acetate or formate, which has arisen from hydrolysis of solvent molecules promoted by the Lewis-acidity of the Ln(III) ions. Luminescence studies on some of the Nd(III) complexes showed that excitation into ligand-centred pi-pi* transitions result in the characteristic near-infrared luminescence from Nd(III) at 1060 nm.