Rate-determining step in the self-assembly process of supramolecular coordination capsules

We present a novel method for investigating the self-assembly process by following the average composition of the fragmentary species.

Pd(II)-mediated assembly of porphyrin channels in bilayer membranes

A membrane-spanning bis(meso-3-pyridyl) porphyrin 1 has been synthesized, embedded in EYPC vesicles, and upon Pd(II) addition has been shown to form ionophores that allow the passage of anionic 5/6-carboxyfluorescein through membranes. The geometric matching of bis(meso-3-pyridyl) porphyrin 1 and trans-Pd(II) was designed to give a cyclic porphyrin trimer [PdCl(2)(1)](3). However, solution-phase studies showed that PdCl(2)(PhCN)(2) cross linked 1 into linear oligomers at porphyrin concentrations above 10 mM, although the formation of cyclic species was inferred from studies at concentrations below 2 μM. Fluorescence titrations showed that embedding porphyrin 1 in bilayers greatly reduced its affinity for Pd(II), but the combination of porphyrin 1 and Pd(II) gave an ionophoric species that increased the rate of 5/6-carboxyfluorescein (5/6-CF) transit through the phospholipid bilayer 12-fold. A maximum in the 5/6-CF release rate was observed at a Pd(II) concentration of 4 μM, and the application of a solution-phase binding model to the membrane phase showed that this peak in ionophoric activity corresponded to the greatest extent of porphyrin oligomerization. Further studies suggested these Pd(II)/porphyrin oligomers transported 5/6-CF via a channel mechanism.

Interactions of 1,5-naphthyridine with Pd(en)Cl2 or [Pd(en)(H2O)2](NO3)2 in aqueous solution

The nature of the complexes formed in aqueous solution between either Pd(en)Cl2 or [Pd(en)(H2O)2](NO3)2 and 1,5-naphthyridine (1,5-NAP), where en is ethylenediamine, have been investigated by 1-D and 2-D (1)H NMR spectroscopy and potentiometric titration. Above pH 5.0, two major complexes have been identified with the stoichiometries of 2:1 and 1:1 (M:L ratio) as well as small amounts of a 1:2 complex and/or oligomer. The 2:1 complex consisted of a Pd(en)2+ moiety symmetrically bonded to each of the nitrogen atoms of the 1,5-NAP, as indicated by the presence of just three 1H NMR resonances in the aromatic region. The 1:1 complex had six resonances as a result of only one 1,5-NAP nitrogen atom being bonded to a Pd(en)2+ group. At pH<5, the uncomplexed nitrogen of the 1:1 and other singly bonded 1,5-NAP species became protonated and resulted in the formation of a large number of complexes. Job's method plots at pH 6 showed that the 1:1 complex is stable over a large concentration range. Above pH approximately 6 the 1:1 complex can dimerize via deprotonation of a water ligand on the Pd(en)2+ to form an hydoxo-bridged or oxo-bridged species. Evidence for this was observed in the upfield shifts of the resonances as the pH increased. The species distribution curve from potentiometric titrations and the NMR data were in good agreement at concentrations of 1-4 mM. NOESY data indicated that free 1,5-NAP ligand was exchanging with that in the 1:1 complex. In order to interpret the en region of the 1H NMR spectra, the spectra of [Pd(en)(H2O)2](NO3)2 in D2O at various pD were obtained.

Metallo-supramolecular self-assembly: the case of triangle-square equilibria

For the efficient self-assembly of metallo-supramolecular complexes, not only reversibility is required but also two other properties have to be controlled as well: (i) The right binding sites need to be programmed into the building blocks at the appropriate positions. (ii) The building blocks must be rigid enough to support the geometrical arrangement and to avoid the unfavorable entropy effects connected with the conformational fixation of flexible molecules. A series of different bis-pyridyl ligands is reported which self-assemble with (dppp)M(OTf) 2 complexes (dppp = 1,3-bis-(diphenylphosphino)propane; M = Pd (II), Pt (II)) to yield squares and/or triangles as the products. Enthalpic contributions (higher strain in the triangle) and entropic contributions (higher number of triangles from the same building blocks) determine the equilibrium. The effects of concentration, temperature, and solvent properties on the equilibrium have been studied. To characterize the complexes under study, a combination of (1)H, (31)P, and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy, electrospray-ionization Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography is needed. Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy provides evidence for fast ligand-exchange processes occurring for the Pd complexes, while the Pt complexes exchange ligands much more slowly.