Molecular acrobatics: self-assembly of calixarene-porphyrin cages

Calix[4]arenes equipped with two and four zinc porphyrins have been prepared, and they show remarkable flexibility in their self-assembly properties with the bidentate ligand DABCO. The calix-bisporphyrin forms a 2:2 complex with DABCO, generating a large cavity that has the potential to act as a supramolecular host. The calix-tetraporphyrin, on the other hand, forms four different complexes with DABCO depending on the stoichiometry and concentration. During the course of a titration, all four complexes are populated, leading to large conformational changes and the formation of both intramolecular and intermolecular calix-tetraporphyrin-DABCO sandwich complexes. The system was fully characterized using a combination of UV-visible and (1)H NMR spectroscopy to identify the complexes. At a calix-tetraporphyrin:DABCO ratio of 2:4, the major species is dimeric cage assembly that features a large internal cavity for guest complexation.     

Noncovalent endo-binding of fullerenes to diprotonated bisporphyrins

Noncovalent binding of fullerenes to bisporphyrins was studied in the gas phase by energy-dependent collision-induced dissociation (CID) with Xe under single-collision conditions. The electrospray ionization mass spectra of calix[4]arene-linked bisporphyrins show that bisporphyrins take up to 3-4 protons, depending on the type of meso-substituents. Of the protonated bisporphyrins, the diprotonated species form stable 1:1 complexes with fullerenes (C(60) and C(70)). CID cracking patterns of the diprotonated bisporphyrins indicate that each monomeric porphyrin moiety is singly protonated. CID yield-energy curves obtained from the 1:1 diprotonated bisporphyrin-fullerene complexes suggest that a fullerene occupies the endo-binding site intercalated between the two singly protonated porphyrin moieties. In the cases of 1:2 diprotonated bisporphyrin-fullerene complexes, CID results show that one fullerene binds inside (endo-binding) and the other outside (exo-binding). The exo-binding mode is energetically almost identical to the binding of fullerenes to singly protonated porphyrin monomers. The endo-binding energy is at least twice the exo-binding energy. To gain insights into the binding mode, we optimized structures of diprotonated bisporphyrins and their 1:1 endo-complexes with fullerenes, and calculated the endo-binding energy for C(60), C(70) (end-on), and C(70) (side-on). The endo-binding of fullerenes to diprotonated bisporphyrins nearly doubles the π-π interactions while reducing the electrostatic repulsion between the two singly protonated porphyrin moieties. The side-on binding of C(70) is favored over the end-on binding because the former exerts less steric strain to the lower rim of calixarene.     

Self-Assembled Porphyrin Arrays via Zinc–Nitrogen Coordination

A series of alkene linked multiporphyrin zinc complexes have been synthesized and their ability to self-assemble in the presence of either 4,4-bipyridine or DABCO has been investigated. It was found that the sandwich complexes with 4,4-bipyridine proceeded via an intermediary 1:1 complex, whereas the sandwich complexes with DABCO formed discrete complexes. Further additions of an excess of DABCO lead to exchange from within the complex.     

Cyclic porphyrin dimers as hosts for coordinating ligands

Bicovalently linked tetraphenylporphyrins bearing dioxypentane groups at the opposite (transoid, H₄A) and adjacent (cisoid, H₄B) aryl groups have been synthesised. Protonation of the free-base porphyrins leads to fully protonated species H₈A⁴⁺/H₈A⁴⁺ accompanied by expansion of cavity size of the bisporphyrins. The electrochemical redox studies of these porphyrins and their Zinc(II) derivatives revealed that the first ring oxidation proceeds through a two-electron process while the second ring oxidation occurs at two distinct one-electron steps indicating unsymmetrical charge distribution in the oxidized intermediate. The axial ligation properties of the Zinc(Il) derivatives of H₄A/H₄B with DABCO and PMDA investigated by spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies showed predominant existence of 1: I complex. The Zn₂A.DABCO complex assumes an interesting eclipsed structure wherein DABCO is located inside the cavity between the two porphyrin planes with Zn-N distances at 2.08 and 2.22 ?. The Zn atoms are pulled into the cavity due to coordination towards nitrogen atoms of DABCO and deviate from the mean porphyrin plane by 0.35 ?. The electrochemical redox potentials of the axially ligated metal derivatives are found to be sensitive function of the relative coordinating ability of the ligands and the conformation of the hosts.     

Intermolecular complexes of singly linked bisporphyrins with trinitrobenzene

Several covalently linked bisporphyrin systems, free-base (H₂P---H₂P), hybrid bisporphyrins (Zn---H₂P) and Zn(II) dimers (ZnP---ZnP) and their 1:1 molecular complexes with sym 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene have been investigated by optical absorption and emission, and magnetic resonance spectroscopic methods. In these systems, two porphyrin units are linked singly through one of the meso aryl groups via ether linkages of variable length. The bisporphyrins cooperatively bind a molecule of a π-acceptor; 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB). The binding constant values vary with interchromophore separation. Maximum binding is observed in the bisporphyrin bearing a two-ether covalent linkage. It is found that TNB quenches the fluorescence of the two porphyrine units in a selective manner. It is suggested that a critical distance between the two porphyrin units is necessary for the observance of maximum cooperative intermolecular binding with an acceptor.     

Equilibrium, photophysical, photochemical, and quantum chemical examination of anionic mercury(II) mono- and bisporphyrins

Mercury(II) ion and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(parasulfonato-phenyl)porphyrin anion can form 1:1, 2:2, and 3:2 (metal ion/porphyrin) out-of-plane (OOP) complexes, from which Hg2P2(8-) has not been identified until now. Identification of this species significantly promoted the confirmation of the composition and the precise elucidation of the equilibrium of Hg3P2(6-). Since the formation of each complex is too fast, their kinetic behavior was studied from the side of dissociation. The rate-determining step in dissociations, as well as in the formation of the 2:2 complex, that is, the dimerization of 1:1 complex, proved to be virtually first-order under these conditions, while the consecutive formations of HgP(4-) and Hg3P2(6-) are second-order reactions. The equilibria can be spectrophotometrically investigated because the Soret- as well as the Q-absorption bands of the free-base ligand are more and more red-shifted in the series of 1:1, 2:2, and 3:2 complexes, and the split of Q-bands disappears as the singlet-1 excited states become degenerate; in the case of bisporphyrins, the bands broaden, especially in the longer-wavelength region of the spectra. The quantum yield and the lifetime of S1-fluorescence from the macrocycle is decreased by the insertion of a mercury(II) ion due to distortion, and in bisporphyrins the luminescence totally ceases because their more complicated structure promotes other ways of energy dissipation. The lifetime of the triplet excited-state is also reduced by metalation. The transient absorption measured upon excitation of Hg3P2(6-) probably originates from Hg2P2(8-) formed by efficient photodissocation during the laser pulse. This photoinduced dissociation is characteristic to out-of-plane complexes, but in metallo-monoporphyrins it needs the energetically higher Soret-excitation; in bisporphyrins, it can take place during irradiation at the longer Q-wavelengths. Investigation of the intramolecular photoredox reactions has proved that for the increased efficiency of the indirect photoinduced LMCT, not the redox potential, but the position of the metal center is responsible. The two orders of magnitude higher photoredux quantum yield for the 3:2 complex, compared to that of the 2:2 species, can be explained by the repulsive effect of the inner mercury(II) ion pushing the other two farther out of the ligand cavity. In bisporphyrins the second excited states are photochemically more reactive than the first ones, while most of the photochemical processes of HgP(4-) originate from the first excited state. According to our quantum chemical calculations, the mercury(II) ion causes the expansion of the porphyrin-cavity; therefore its out-of-plane position is smaller than the value expected based on its ionic radius. In the hitherto unknown 2:2 dimer two 1:1 saucer-shaped monomers are kept together by secondary forces, mostly by pi-pi interaction, but their relative arrangement was not unequivocally determined by the two DFT functionals used. The arrangements with a symmetry axis or plane perpendicular to both rings are not favored; instead, the two monomers are shifted along the porphyrin planes, either in a Hg-P-Hg-P or a Hg-P-P-Hg order. Our time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations indicate that the electronic spectra are not very sensitive to the structure of the dimer, even though the environment of the porphyrin rings is quite different if one of the metal ions is between or outside of both macrocycles. The calculated spectral shifts agree only partially with the experimental data. The TD-DFT calculations suggest that the chromophores are not fully independent in the bisporphyrins and that the observed spectral shift cannot be uniquely assigned to the geometrical distortion of the porphyrin macrocyle.     

Applicability of the H NMR chemical shifts computed by the ab initio/GIAO-HF methodology to the study of geometrical features of Zn-porphyrin dimers

Several porphyrin dimers have been newly designed and synthesized to construct assemblies with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) as a bidentate binding ligand. Semi empirical (AM1) and ab initio calculations have been used to study the assemblies generated by the organization of dimers and DABCO, including the computation of ¹H NMR complexation-induced chemical shifts using the ab initio/GIAO methodology. The diagnostic capacity of the theoretical method has been applied to explain experimental results and geometrical features of the complexes.     

Ligand effects on the ferro- to antiferromagnetic exchange ratio in bis(o-semiquinonato)copper(II)

Heterospin complexes [Cu(SQ)2Py].C7H8, Cu(SQ)2DABCO, and [Cu(SQ)2NIT-mPy].C6H6, where Cu(SQ)2 is bis(3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzosemiquinonato)copper(II), DABCO is 1,4-diazabicyclo(2,2,2)octane, and NIT-mPy is the nitronyl nitroxide 2-(pyridin-3-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl, have been synthesized. The molecules of these complexes have a specific combination of the intramolecular ferro- and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the odd electrons of Cu(II) and SQ ligands, characterized by large exchange coupling parameters |J| approximately 100-300 cm(-1). X-ray and magnetochemical studies of a series of mixed-ligand compounds revealed that an extra ligand (Py, NIT-mPy, or DABCO) coordinated to the metal atom produces a dramatic effect on the magnetic properties of the complex, changing the multiplicity of the ground state. Quantum chemical analysis of magnetostructural correlations showed that the energy of the antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between the odd electrons of the SQ ligands in the Cu(SQ)2 bischelate is extremely sensitive to both the nature of the extra ligand and structural distortions of the coordination unit, arising from extra ligand coordination.     

Mechanisms of DABCO‐ and DMAP‐catalyzed [2 + 4] cycloaddition reactions of methylallenoate with methyleneindolonone: A DFT study

The mechanisms and stereoselectivities of the [2 + 4] cycloaddition reaction of methylallenoate R1 with methyleneindolonone R2 catalyzed by DABCO (Equation 1) and DMAP (Equation 2) organocatalysts have been examined with density functional theory (M06‐2X) calculations. Several possible reaction pathways (paths 1a, 1b, and 1c for Equation 1 and paths 2a and 2b for Equation 2) were located and compared. The results of our study reveal that for both reactions, three reaction stages have been characterized: nucleophilic addition of the catalyst ( DABCO or DMAP ) to R1 (Stage I ), addition of the other reactant R2 (Stage II ), intramolecular cycloaddition and liberation of the catalyst ( DABCO or DMAP ) afforded the final product (Stage III ). For the DABCO ‐catalyzed cycloaddition, we predict that path 1a leading to P(E) is the most energy favorable pathway among the three possible pathways. The carbon–carbon bond formation step is the rate‐determining step (ΔG ^?=23.6 kcal/mol). With DMAP catalyst, the same reaction gave P(Z) as the major product. The barrier for the rate‐determining step (addition of R1 to DMAP ) is 25.8 kcal/mol. The calculated results are in agreement with the experimental findings. Moreover, for both reactions, the analysis of global reactivity indexes has been carried out to examine the role of catalyst. The present study should provide a general mechanistic framework for the rational design of this kind of reactions.     

Supramolecular inclusion complexes of two cyclic zinc bisporphyrins with C60 and C70: structural, thermodynamic, and photophysical characterization

The formation of thermodynamically stable inclusion complexes between two cyclic zinc bisporphyrins, differing in the saturation degree of the hydrocarbon linkers that connect their porphyrin units, and the fullerenes C(60) and C(70) is described. Binding and photophysical studies were performed in two solvents of very different polarity: toluene and dichloromethane. UV/Vis and fluorescence titration experiments showed π-π interactions between the cyclic zinc bisporphyrins and the fullerenes. Solid-state structures were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis and gave valuable insight into the different complexation behaviors of the two macrocyclic systems towards the fullerenes. NMR titrations were also helpful in understanding the geometry of the complexes in solution. Upon fullerene complexation, the two macrocyclic bisporphyrins adopt very distinct conformations. Charge-transfer absorption bands point to ground-state interactions, and quenching of the porphyrin component luminescence indicates fast reactivity in the excited states. Energy transfer plus HOMO-HOMO and LUMO-LUMO electron-transfer processes occur within the complexes. Charge-separated states characterized by a reduced fullerene and an oxidized porphyrin radical, with lifetimes in the order of several hundred picoseconds, are detected.     

Coordination polymers of copper(I) halides

A total of 21 complexes of CuX (X = Cl, Br, I) with bridging ligand (B = 4,4'-dipyridyl (Bpy), pyrazine (Pyz), quinoxaline (Quin), phenazine (Phz), 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA)) have been synthesized. The products show two stoichiometries: [CuXB] (type 1) and [(CuX)2B] (type 2). Both types can be obtained for B = Bpy, depending on the conditions of preparation. In these cases, the type 2 stoichiometry is the kinetic product. Type 2 complexes only are found for B = Pyz (X = I), Quin, Phz, DABCO, and HMTA. Type 1 complexes form for Pyz (X = Cl, Br). Thermogravimetic analyses of the complexes reveal the general decomposition trend: 1 --> 2 --> [(CuX)2B(1/2)] --> CuX. The X-ray crystal structure of [CuBr(Pyz)] (type 1) features copper atoms bridged by Br and Pyz, forming 2D sheets of fused rectangular Cu4Br2(Pyz)2 units. The X-ray structure of [(CuI)2(Quin)] (type 2) shows 2D layers composed of [Cu2I2]infinity "stair step" chains which are cross-linked by Quin ligands. A total of 16 complexes of CuXL (L = P(OPh)3) with bridging ligand (B = those above and 1,4-dimethylpiperazine (DMP)) have also been prepared. All of these products, except those of HMTA, are of type 3 formulation, [(CuXL)2B]. The HMTA products have the formula [CuX(HMTA)], type 4. Thermal decomposition of the type 3 and 4 complexes occurs with initial loss of B, L, or both. The X-ray structures of [(CuBrL)2(Bpy)] and [(CuBrL)2(Pyz)] (type 3) reveal 1D chains formed from rhomboidal (LCu)2Br2 units linked by the B ligand. The type 4 structure of [CuBrL(HMTA)] is shown by X-ray to be a simple halide-bridged dimer.     

Complexes between hydrogen bonded bisporphyrin tweezers and cholesterol-appended fullerenes as organogelators and liquid crystals

This paper reports the gelation and liquid crystal properties of a class of new complexes between zinc and copper bisporphyrin and C₆₀ derivatives. The bisporphyrins are induced by intramolecular hydrogen bonding to adopt a preorganized ‘U’-shaped conformation and therefore efficiently complex the C₆₀ derivatives. As a result, the capacity of their mixtures to gelate alkanes is increased notably. The bisporphyrins themselves and their complexes with the C₆₀ derivatives form the smectic liquid crystal phase. However, the glassy transition temperature of the complexes decreases considerably.     

Regioisomeric control induced by DABCO coordination to rotatable self-assembled bis- and tetraporphyrin α,γ-cyclic octapeptide dimers

The design and synthesis of two α,γ-cyclic octapeptides decorated with one and two Zn-porphyrin units in their periphery is described. In nonpolar organic solvents the α,γ-cyclic octapeptides quantitatively self-assemble into Zn-bis- or -tetraporphyrin architectures that could act as molecular tweezers. The self-assembly process, however, is not regioselective and affords a mixture of different regioisomers that are involved in chemical exchange processes. The regioisomers with the Zn-porphyrin units positioned in register with respect to each other are proposed to be the less abundant species in the solution mixture. It has been demonstrated that the coordination of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) to the supramolecular bis- or tetraporphyrin tweezers is an effective way to achieve regioisomeric control of the self-assembled mixture of dimers. Thus, DABCO functions as an external molecular trigger and, when used under strict stoichiometric control with respect to the Zn-porphyrin units, provokes the exclusive formation of self-assembled dimers with a cofacial arrangement of Zn-porphyrin units through the formation of sandwich-type complexes. The use of excess DABCO fragments the sandwich complexes and affords open dimers of high stoichiometry with DABCO molecules axially monocoordinated to the Zn-porphyrin units, probably as a regioisomeric mixture. In the case of Zn-tetraporphyrin tweezers, the ditopic coordination of DABCO at the two binding sites shows a moderate positive cooperativity factor, αP=5. These assemblies have potential applications as light-induced energy and electron-transfer switches regulated by DABCO coordination; such applications would require the introduction of additional chromophores in the cyclic peptide scaffold.     

The synthesis and properties of bis-1,1'-(porphyrinyl)ferrocenes

Ferrocene-bridged bisporphyrins have been synthesized by the condensation of corresponding dipyrromethane-derived diols with a bisdipyrromethane. Purification of the final compounds has been achieved without chromatography. The specific geometry of these bisporphyrins makes them valuable starting points for building complex molecular and supramolecular structures. In particular it provides a core to which multiple sites of attractive intermolecular interactions can be attached thereby creating compounds predisposed to form complex networks by association. We have studied the structure of bis-1,1'-(porphyrinyl)ferrocenes by 1H NMR, UV-Vis and electrochemistry. Results have shown that complex dynamic processes occur in these molecules (which may involve conformers, formation of H-aggregates and tautomers) and that they have non-typical electrochemical behaviour.     

Diiron(III)–μ‐Fluoro Bisporphyrins: Effect of Bridging Ligand on the Metal Spin State

A hitherto unknown family of diiron(III)–μ‐fluoro bisporphyrins has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Fluoride abstraction from SbF₆^? and BF₄^? resulted in the synthesis of the μ‐fluoro complexes of ethane‐ and ethene‐bridged diiron(III) bisporphyrins. Two such complexes were structurally characterized, which revealed a single fluoro bridge between two iron centers with a remarkably bent Fe‐F‐Fe unit. Although isoelectronic with the μ‐hydroxo complexes, the μ‐fluoro species are quite divergent in terms of the electronic structure and properties. UV/Vis spectroscopy of the μ‐fluoro complex exhibits a large redshift (ca. 18 nm) of the Soret band in comparison to their μ‐hydroxo analog. Combined analysis by single crystal X‐ray structure determination and Mössbauer and ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of two equivalent iron(III) centers in the μ‐fluoro complexes in both solid and solution phases. In contrast, the iron(III) centers of the μ‐hydroxo complexes are known to be inequivalent. Variable‐temperature magnetic studies show a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the iron(III) centers of the μ‐fluoro complexes with coupling constants (J) ranging from ?33 to ?40 cm^?1. The experimental results were further supported by DFT calculations.     

Recyclable and reusable Pd(OAc)2/DABCO/PEG-400 system for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

[reaction: see text] A stable and efficient Pd(OAc)2/DABCO (triethylenediamine) catalytic system for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and DABCO, coupling of aryl halides with arylboronic acids was carried out smoothly to afford good to excellent yields and high turnover numbers (TONs) (the maximal TONs were up to 960,000 for the reaction of 1-iodo-4-nitrobenzene with phenylboronic acid) using PEG-400 as the solvent. Moreover, the Pd(OAc)2/DABCO/PEG-400 system could be recycled and reused five times without any loss of catalytic activity for aryl iodides and bromides.     

On the effect of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane on the singlet-oxygen dimol emission: photosensitized generation of (1O2)2

Time-resolved singlet-oxygen dimol luminescence has been recorded upon laser-pulsed photosensitization of singlet oxygen by 2-acetonaphthone or 1-H-phenalen-1-one in perfluorobenzene, perdeuterobenzene, and perdeuteroacetonitrile. It is shown that 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) does not enhance radiative properties of the dimol species generated by the photosensitization. Instead, DABCO strongly reduces the singlet-oxygen dimol luminescence. Rate constants for the quenching of the dimol luminescence by DABCO have been determined for the three solvents used.     

Covalently linked bisporphyrins bearing tetraphenylporphyrin and perbromoporphyrin units: Synthesis and their properties

A series of covalently linked bisporphyrins bearingmeso-tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and octabromotetraphenylporphyrin (OBTPP) units have been synthesised and characterised. Electrochemical studies on these bisporphyrins showed an anodic shift (∼ 30–60 mV) of the TPP unit and a cathodic shift (∼40-80 mV) of OBTPP in redox potentials. Further, steady-state fluorescence studies on bisporphyrins indicated dramatic decrease in fluorescence quantum yields of the TPP moiety. Electrochemical redox and fluorescence data seem to suggest the possible existence of intramolecular interactions in these bisporphyrins     

Theoretical study of DABCO-based ionic liquid: synthesis and reaction mechanism

Quaternary ammonium salt obtained from the Menshutkin reaction between DABCO and benzyl chloride has been used in the synthesis of a novel Bronsted acidic ionic liquid (IL), namely 1-benzyl-4-(sulfobutyl)-diaza-bicyclo-octane hydrogen sulfate. The reaction of DABCO with benzyl chloride is a crucial step in the synthesis of this IL. Density functional theory calculations at B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level have been employed to investigate the mechanism of Menshutkin reaction by calculating the energy barriers through possible transition states i.e., five-membered ring transition state and S_N2 transition state in gas phase and in diethyl ether as a solvent. It was found that while DABCO reacts with benzyl chloride through the well-known S_N2 transition state mechanism, the corresponding reaction with chlorodiphenylmethane can proceed through both S_N2 and five-membered ring transition state mechanism. However, S_N2 transition state mechanism is still the strongly preferred one out of the two possible mechanisms. The electronic structure analysis shows that solvent effects and enhanced resonance stabilization may play a decisive role in guiding the reaction pathway.     

Predicting experimental complexation-induced changes in (1)H NMR chemical shift for complexes between zinc-porphyrins and amines using the ab initio/GIAO-HF methodology

Ab initio calculations were carried out on zinc-porphyrins complexed to several amines: N-(3,5-dimethyl-pyridin-4-yl)-formamide, 1,4-diazabiciclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), and 1-azabiciclo[2.2.2]octane (quinuclidine). The proton chemical shifts of these complexes were calculated ab initio at the GIAO-HF/6-311G//HF/3-21G level of theory, and the obtained values agree satisfactorily with experimental results. The complexation-induced changes in (1)H NMR chemical shifts correlate well with differences in association constants of several host-guest complexes.