Bis(2‐pyridyl­methanol)­bis­(saccharinato)­zinc(II) and ‐cadmium(II) at 120 K: three‐dimensional structures containing both N‐and O‐coordinated ambi­dentate saccharinate ligands

The title complexes [M(sac)₂(mpy)₂] [sac is saccharinate (C₇H₄NO₃S) and mpy is 2‐pyridyl­methanol (C₆H₇NO)], with M = Zn^II and Cd^II, are isostructural and consist of neutral mol­ecules. The Zn^II or Cd^II cations are octahedrally coordinated by the two neutral mpy and two anionic sac ligands. The mpy ligand acts as a bidentate donor through the amine N and hydroxyl O atoms. The sac ligands exhibit an ambidentate coordination behaviour; one is N‐coordinated and the other is O‐coordinated within the same coordination octahedron. The crystal packing is determined by C—H?O‐type hydrogen bonding, as well as by weak py–py and sac–sac aromatic π–π‐stacking interactions.     

The dynamic chemistry of molecular borromean rings and Solomon knots

The dynamic solution equilibria between molecular Borromean rings (BRs) and Solomon knots (SKs), assembled from transition metal‐templated macrocycles, consisting of exo‐bidentate bipyridyl and endo‐tridentate diiminopyridyl ligands, have been examined with respect to the choice of the metal template and reaction conditions employed in the synthesis of the metalated BRs, otherwise known as Borromeates. Three new Borromeates, their syntheses templated by Cu^II, Co^II, and Mn^II, have been characterized extensively (two by X‐ray crystallography) to the extent that the metal centers in the assemblies have been shown to be distanced sufficiently from each other not to communicate. The solid‐state structure of the Co^II–Borromeate reveals that six MeOH molecules, arranged in a [O? H???O] hydrogen bonded, chair‐like conformation, are located within its oxophilic central cavity. When a mixture of Cu^II and Zn^II is used as the source of templation, there exists a dynamic equilibrium, in MeOH at room temperature, between a mixed‐metal BR and a SK, from which the latter has been fractionally crystallized. By employing appropriate synthetic protocols with Zn^II or Cd^II as the template, significant amounts of SKs are formed alongside BRs. Modified crystallization conditions resulted in the isolation of both an all‐zinc BR and an all‐zinc SK, crystals of which can be separated manually, leading to the full characterization of the all‐zinc SK by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. This doubly interlocked [2]catenate has been identified retrospectively in recorded spectra, where it was attributed previously to a Borromeate with a Zn^II cation coordinated to the oxophilic interior walls of the ensemble. Interestingly, these Zn^II‐templated assemblies do not interconvert in MeOH at room temperature, indicating the significant influence of both the metal template and solvent on the solution equilibria. It would also appear that d¹⁰ metal ions favor SK formation—no evidence of Cu^II‐, Co^II‐, or Mn^II‐templated SKs has been found, yet a 1:0.9 ratio of BR:SK has been identified by ¹H NMR spectroscopy when Cd^II is used as the template.     

Bright Fluorescence and Host–Guest Sensing with a Nanoscale M4L6 Tetrahedron Accessed by Self‐Assembly of Zinc–Imine Chelate Vertices and Perylene Bisimide Edges

A highly luminescent Zn₄L₆ tetrahedron is reported with 3.8 nm perylene bisimide edges and hexadentate Zn^II–imine chelate vertices. Replacing Fe^II and monoamines commonly utilized in subcomponent self‐assembly with Zn^II and tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine provides access to a metallosupramolecular host with the rare combination of structural integrity at concentrations <10^?7 mol L^?1 and an exceptionally high fluorescence quantum yield of Φ_em=0.67. Encapsulation of multiple perylene or coronene guest molecules is accompanied by strong luminescence quenching. We anticipate this self‐assembly strategy may be generalized to improve access to brightly fluorescent coordination cages tailored for host–guest light‐harvesting, photocatalysis, and sensing.     

Constructing High‐Generation Sierpiński Triangles by Molecular Puzzling

Three generations of metalated trigonal supramolecular architectures, so‐called metallo‐triangles, were assembled from terpyridine (tpy) complexes. The first generation (G1) metallo‐triangles were directly obtained by reacting a bis(terpyridinyl) ligand with a 60° bite angle and Zn^II ions. The direct self‐assembly of G2 and G3 triangles by mixing organic ligands and Zn^II, however, only generated a mixture of G1 and G2, as well as a trace amount of insoluble polymer‐like precipitate. Therefore, a modular strategy based on the connectivity of ⟨tpy−Ru²⁺−tpy⟩ was employed to construct two metallo‐organic ligands for the assembly of G2 and G3 Sierpiński triangles. The metallo‐organic ligands L^A and L^B with multiple free terpyridines were obtained through Suzuki cross‐coupling of the Ru^II complexes, and then assembled with Zn^II or Cd^II to obtain high‐generation metallo‐triangular architectures in nearly quantitative yield. The G1–G3 architectures were characterized by NOESY and DOSY NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, TWIM‐MS, and transmission electron microscopy.     

Subcomponent Self‐Assembly of a 4 nm M4L6 Tetrahedron with ZnII Vertices and Perylene Bisimide Dye Edges

Formation of a tetrahedron with >4 nm perylene bisimide (PBI) dye edges and Zn^II vertices in a one‐pot 22 component self‐assembly reaction is reported. The luminescent polyhedron equilibrates to a Zn₂L₃ helicate and disassembles upon dilution. Insights into the subcomponent self‐assembly of extended PBI ligands help to refine design rules for constructing large photofunctional metallosupramolecular hosts.     

Diketopyrrolopyrrole J‐Aggregates Formed by Self‐Organization with DNA

Bis(2‐thienyl)diketopyrrolopyrrole with two Zn^II‐cyclens (ZnCyc‐DPP) was designed and synthesized to evaluate the selective binding of Zn^II‐cyclen with thymine base in single‐strand DNA as a tool for the construction of a highly ordered multichromophore system on DNAs. Through UV/Vis titrations, gel filtration chromatography, and circular dichroism spectroscopy, ZnCyc‐DPP formed J‐type DPP aggregates with oligo‐dT_n DNAs. The DPP aggregates absorbed on a gold electrode exhibited good photocurrent responses. The present results show that binding Zn^II‐cyclen–chromophore conjugates and thymine bases together is a powerful tool for preparing DNA‐templated multichromophoric systems with specific functions.     

New Mechanistic Insight into Stepwise Metal‐Center Exchange in a Metal–Organic Framework Based on Asymmetric Zn4 Clusters

Herein, a mechanism of stepwise metal‐center exchange for a specific metal–organic framework, namely, [Zn₄(dcpp)₂(DMF)₃(H₂O)₂]_n (H₄dcpp=4,5‐bis(4′‐carboxylphenyl)phthalic acid), is disclosed for the first time. The coordination stabilities between the central metal atoms and the ligands as well as the coordination geometry are considered to be dominant factors in this stepwise exchange mechanism. A new magnetic analytical method and a theoretical model confirmed that the exchange mechanism is reasonable. When the metathesis reaction occurs between Cu^II ions and framework Zn^II ions, the magnetic exchange interaction of each pair of Cu^II centers gradually strengthens with increasing amount of framework Cu^II ions. By analyzing the changes of coupling constants in the Cu‐exchanged products, it was deduced that Zn4 and Zn3 are initially replaced, and then Zn1 and Zn2 are replaced later. The theoretical calculation further verified that Zn4 is replaced first, Zn3 next, then Zn1 and Zn2 last, and the coordination stability dominates the Cu/Zn exchange process. For the Ni/Zn and Co/Zn exchange processes, besides the coordination stability, the preferred coordination geometry was also considered in the stepwise‐exchange behavior. As Ni^II and Co^II ions especially favor octahedral coordination geometry in oxygen‐ligand fields, Ni^II ions and Co^II ions could only selectively exchange with the octahedral Zn^II ions, as was also confirmed by the experimental results. The stepwise metal‐exchange process occurs in a single crystal‐to‐single crystal fashion.     

Construction of Insulin 18‐mer Nanoassemblies Driven by Coordination to Iron(II) and Zinc(II) Ions at Distinct Sites

Controlled self‐assembly (SA) of proteins offers the possibility to tune their properties or to create new materials. Herein, we present the synthesis of a modified human insulin (HI) with two distinct metal‐ion binding sites, one native, the other abiotic, enabling hierarchical SA through coordination with two different metal ions. Selective attachment of an abiotic 2,2′‐bipyridine (bipy) ligand to HI, yielding HI–bipy, enabled Zn^II‐binding hexamers to SA into trimers of hexamers, [[HI–bipy]₆]₃, driven by octahedral coordination to a Fe^II ion. The structures were studied in solution by small‐angle X‐ray scattering and on surfaces with AFM. The abiotic metal ligand had a higher affinity for Fe^II than Zn^II ions, enabling control of the hexamer formation with Zn^II and the formation of trimers of hexamers with Fe^II ions. This precise control of protein SA to give oligomers of oligomers provides nanoscale structures with potential applications in nanomedicine.     

Single‐Crystal to Single‐Crystal Linker Substitution,Linker Place Exchange,and Transmetalation Reactions in Interpenetrated Pillared–Bilayer Zinc(II) Metal–Organic Frameworks

A twofold interpenetrated pillared–bilayer framework, {[Zn₃( L )₂( L₂ )(DMF)] ? (18DMF)(6H₂O)}_n ( 1 ), has been synthesized from the ligands tris(4′‐carboxybiphenyl)amine ( H₃L ) and 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene ( L₂ ). The structure contains [Zn₃(COO)₆] secondary building units (SBUs), in which three Zn^II ions are almost linear with carboxylate bridging. This framework undergoes reversible pillar linker substitution reactions at the terminal Zn^II centers with three different dipyridyl linkers of different lengths to afford three daughter frameworks, 2 – 4 . Frameworks 2 – 4 are interconvertible through reversible linker substitution reactions. Also, competitive linker‐exchange experiments show preferential incorporation of linker L₃ in the parent framework 1 . The larger linker L₅ does not undergo such substitution reactions and framework 5 , which contains this linker, can be synthesized solvothermally as a twofold interpenetrated structure. Interestingly, when framework 5 is dipped in a solution of L₃ in DMF, linker substitution takes place as before, but linker L₅ now moves and diagonally binds two Zn^II centers to afford 6 as a nonpenetrated single framework. This linker place exchange reaction is unprecedented. All of these reactions take place in a single‐crystal to single‐crystal (SC‐SC) manner, and have been observed directly through X‐ray crystallography. In addition, each 3D framework undergoes complete copper(II) transmetalation.     

A novel dimeric zinc(II) complex: bis­[μ‐1,2‐bis­(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)­ethane‐κ2N4:N4′]­bis­[diisothio­cyanato­zinc(II)]

The coordination geometry of the Zn^II atom in the title complex, [Zn₂(NCS)₄(C₆H₈N₆)₂], is that of a distorted tetra­hedron, in which the Zn^II atom is coordinated by four N atoms from the triazole rings of two symmetry‐related 1,2‐bis­(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)ethane ligands and two thio­cyanate ligands. Two Zn^II atoms are bridged by two organic ligands to form a dimer. The dimer lies about an inversion center.     

A novel parallel interpenetrating two‐dimensional (4,4) network: poly[[μ2‐1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene](μ2‐naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)zinc(II)]

In the title coordination compound, [Zn(C₁₂H₆O₄)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)]_n, the two Zn^II centers exhibit different coordination environments. One Zn^II center is four‐coordinated in a distorted tetrahedral environment surrounded by two carboxylate O atoms from two different naphthalene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate (1,4‐ndc) anions and two N atoms from two distinct 1,4‐bis(imidazol‐1‐ylmethyl)benzene (1,4‐bix) ligands. The coordination of the second Zn^II center comprises two N atoms from two different 1,4‐bix ligands and three carboxylate O atoms from two different 1,4‐ndc ligands in a highly distorted square‐pyramidal environment. The 1,4‐bix ligand and the 1,4‐ndc anion link adjacent Zn^II centers into a two‐dimensional four‐connected (4,4) network. The two (4,4) networks are interpenetrated in a parallel mode.     

A New Luminescent Ruthenium(II) Polypyridine‐derived Dipicolylamine Complex as a Sensor for Cu2+ Ions

A chemo‐sensor [Ru(bpy)₂(bpy‐DPF)](PF₆)₂ ( 1 ) (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, bpy‐DPF=2,2′‐bipyridyl‐4,4′‐bis(N,N‐di(2‐picolyl))formylamide) for Cu²⁺ using di(2‐picolyl)amine (DPA) as the recognition group and a ruthenium(II) complex as the reporting group was synthesized and characterized successfully. It demonstrates a high selectivity and efficient signaling behavior only for Cu²⁺ with obvious red‐shifted MLCT (metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer transitions) absorptions and dramatic fluorescence quenching compared with Zn²⁺ and other metal ions.     

An Electron‐Deficient Porphyrin Tape

Hexakis(pentafluorophenyl)‐substituted meso–meso‐linked Zn^II–diporphyrin ( 9 ), which was prepared by the acid‐catalyzed cross‐condensation of 1,1,2,2‐tetrapyrroethane ( 5 ) with dipyrromethane dicarbinol ( 6 ), was converted into meso–meso,β‐β,β‐β triply linked Zn^II–diporphyrin 3 by oxidation with 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) and Sc(OTf)₃. Beside the red‐shifted absorption spectrum and split first oxidation potential that are common to the triply‐linked Zn^II–diporphyrins, diporphyrin 3 exhibited considerably improved chemical stability owing to a lowered HOMO and good solubility in common organic solvents. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) cross‐section and S₁‐state lifetime of compound 3 were 1700 GM and 3.3 ps, respectively.     

Selective Coordination of Gallium(III), Zinc(II), and Copper(II) by an Asymmetric Dinucleating Ligand: A Model for Metallophosphatases

Complexation studies of the dinucleating ligand H₃L (H₃L=2‐{[bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)amino]methyl}‐6‐{[bis(6‐pivaloylamidopyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)amino]methyl}‐4‐methylphenol), with metal‐binding sites A and B, which both provide four donors to a metal ion; a tertiary amine; two pyridines (substituted with amide hydrogen‐bond donors in site B), and a bridging phenolate, with Zn^II, Cu^II, and Ga^III are reported. The titration of H₃L with the three metal ions in solution was monitored by NMR spectroscopy or EPR and UV/Vis/near‐IR spectroscopy, as well as by ESI‐MS to analyze the selectivity of the two metal‐ion sites A and B of this model ligand for metallophosphatases; the spectroscopic assignments are supported by X‐ray crystallography results. The first Zn^II ion coordinates to site A with unsubstituted pyridine donors and, upon addition of a second equivalent of Zn^II, this coordinates to the sterically less accessible site B. From a similar titration with Ga^III, it emerges that only a mononuclear complex is obtained, with the Ga^III center coordinated to site A. When one equivalent of Ga^III is reacted with the mononuclear Zn^II complex, Zn^II is forced by Ga^III to exchange the site; this results in a dinuclear complex with Ga^III in site A and Zn^II in site B. With Cu^II, two isomers are observed: one with and the other without a bridging phenolate; these differ significantly in their spectroscopic and magnetic properties.     

A novel one‐dimensional double‐chain‐like ZnII coordination polymer: poly[bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN3)tris(μ‐cyanido‐κ2C:N)(cyanido‐κC)disilver(I)zinc(II)]

One of most interesting systems of coordination polymers constructed from the first‐row transition metals is the porous Zn^II coordination polymer system, but the numbers of such polymers containing N‐donor linkers are still limited. The title double‐chain‐like Zn^II coordination polymer, [Ag₂Zn(CN)₄(C₁₀H₁₀N₂)₂]_n, presents a one‐dimensional linear coordination polymer structure in which Zn^II ions are linked by bridging anionic dicyanidoargentate(I) units along the crystallographic b axis and each Zn^II ion is additionally coordinated by a terminal dicyanidoargentate(I) unit and two terminal 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole (BZI) ligands, giving a five‐coordinated Zn^II ion. Interestingly, there are strong intermolecular Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between terminal and bridging dicyanidoargentate(I) units and C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands of adjacent one‐dimensional linear chains, providing a one‐dimensional linear double‐chain‐like structure. The supramolecular three‐dimensional framework is stabilized by C—H…π interactions between the phenyl rings of BZI ligands and by Ag^I…Ag^I interactions between adjacent double chains. The photoluminescence properties have been studied.     

Water‐Exchange Mechanism for Zinc(II), Cadmium(II), and Mercury(II) Ions in Water as Studied by Umbrella‐Sampling Molecular‐Dynamics Simulations

Umbrella‐sampling molecular‐dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the water‐exchange reactions of zinc(II), cadmium(II), and mercury(II) ions in aqueous solution. The dissociation of a coordinating water molecule to the M? O distance at 3.34, 3.16, and 3.26 Å for Zn^II, Cd^II, and Hg^II, respectively, leads the system to a transition state. For Zn^II, the first hydration shell is occupied by five spectator water molecules in the transition state, indicating that the water‐exchange reaction proceeds via a dissociative mode of activation. In contrast, the number of spectator water molecules of 5.85 and 5.95 for Cd^II and Hg^II, respectively, suggests an associative exchange for these larger metal ions. The average M? O distance of the spectator molecules is shortened by 0.06 Å for the dissociative exchange of Zn^II, while it is elongated by 0.04 and 0.03 Å for Cd^II and Hg^II, respectively. The water‐exchange rate constants of 4.1×10⁸, 6.8×10⁸, and 1.8×10⁹ s^?1 are estimated for Zn^II, Cd^II, and Hg^II, respectively, at 298 K in terms of the transition‐state theory based on the assumption of a transmission coefficient of unity.     

Synthesis and properties of hybrid porphyrin tapes

Hybrid porphyrin tapes 3 and 4 , consisting of a mixture of 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl‐substituted donor‐type Zn^II–porphyrins and pentafluorophenyl‐substituted acceptor‐type Zn^II–porphyrins, were prepared by a synthetic route involving cross‐condensation reaction of a Ni^II–porphyrinyldipyrromethane and pentafluorophenyldipyrromethane with pentafluorobenzaldehyde followed by appropriate demetalation, remetalation, and oxidative ring‐closure reaction. The Ni^II‐substituted porphyrin tapes 5 (Ni‐Zn‐Ni) and 6 (Ni‐H₂‐Ni) were also prepared through similar routes. The hybrid porphyrin tapes 3 and 4 are more soluble and more stable than normal porphyrin tapes 1 and 2 consisting of only donor‐type Zn^II–porphyrins. The solid‐state and crystal packing structures of 3 , 4 , and 5 were elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Singly meso–meso‐linked hybrid porphyrin arrays 12 and 14 exhibit redox potentials that roughly correspond to each constituent porphyrin segments, while the redox potentials of the hybrid porphyrin tapes 3 and 4 are positively shifted as a whole. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) values of 1–6 were measured by using a wavelength‐scanning open aperture Z‐scan method and found to be 1900, 21 000, 2200, 27 000, 24 000, and 26 000 GM, respectively. These results illustrate an important effect of elongation of π‐electron conjugation for the enhancement of TPA values. The hybrid porphyrin tapes show slightly larger TPA values than the parent ones.     

Facile Self‐Assembly of Metallo‐Supramolecular Ring‐in‐Ring and Spiderweb Structures Using Multivalent Terpyridine Ligands

A series of metallo‐supramolecular ring‐in‐ring structures was generated by assembling Cd^II ions and the multivalent terpyridine ligands ( L^1‐3 ) composed of one 60°‐bent and two 120°‐bent bis(terpyridine)s with varying alkyl linker lengths. The mechanistic study for the self‐assembly process excluded an entropically templated pathway and showed that the intramolecularly complexed species is the key intermediate leading to ring‐in‐ring formation. The next‐generation superstructure, a spiderweb, was produced in quantitative yield using the elongated decakis(terpyridine) ligand ( L⁵ ).     

A self‐penetrated three‐dimensional zinc(II) coordination framework based on 4,4′,4′′‐(1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐triyl)tribenzoic acid and 1,3‐bis[(imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene ligands: synthesis,structure and properties

With the rapid development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a variety of MOFs and their derivatives have been synthesized and reported in recent years. Commonly, multifunctional aromatic polycarboxylic acids and nitrogen‐containing ligands are employed to construct MOFs with fascinating structures. 4,4′,4′′‐(1,3,5‐Triazine‐2,4,6‐triyl)tribenzoic acid (H₃TATB) and the bidentate nitrogen‐containing ligand 1,3‐bis[(imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene (bib) were selected to prepare a novel Zn^II‐MOF under solvothermal conditions, namely poly[[tris{μ‐1,3‐bis[(imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]benzene}bis[μ₃‐4,4′,4′′‐(1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐triyl)tribenzoato]trizinc(II)] dimethylformamide disolvate trihydrate], {[Zn₃(C₂₄H₁₂N₃O₆)₂(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)₃]·2C₃H₇NO·3H₂O}_n ( 1 ). The structure of 1 was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction. The properties of 1 were investigated by thermogravimetric and fluorescence analysis. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction shows that 1 belongs to the monoclinic space group Pc. The asymmetric unit contains three crystallographically independent Zn^II centres, two 4,4′,4′′‐(1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐triyl)tribenzoate (TATB^3?) anions, three complete bib ligands, one and a half free dimethylformamide molecules and three guest water molecules. Each Zn^II centre is four‐coordinated and displays a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. The Zn^II centres are connected by TATB^3? anions to form an angled ladder chain with large windows. Simultaneously, the bib ligands link Zn^II centres to give a helical Zn–bib–Zn chain. Furthermore, adjacent ladders are bridged by Zn–bib–Zn chains to form a fascinating three‐dimensional self‐penetrated framework with the short Schläfli symbol 6⁵·7·8¹³·9·10. In addition, the luminescence properties of 1 in the solid state and the fluorescence sensing of metal ions in suspension were studied. Significantly, compound 1 shows potential application as a fluorescent sensor with sensing properties for Zr⁴⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions.     

Photoluminescence properties of a cationic trinuclear zinc(II) complex with the tetradentate Schiff base ligand 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate

Metal complexes with Schiff base ligands have been suggested as potential phosphors in electroluminescent devices. In the title complex, tetrakis[6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolato‐1:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O;3:2κ⁸N,N′,O:O]trizinc(II) hexafluoridophosphate methanol monosolvate, [Zn₃(C₁₄H₁₃N₂O)₄](PF₆)₂·CH₃OH, the Zn^II cations adopt both six‐ and four‐coordinate geometries involving the N and O atoms of tetradentate 6‐methyl‐2‐({[(pyridin‐2‐yl)methyl]imino}methyl)phenolate ligands. Two terminal Zn^II cations adopt distorted octahedral geometries and the central Zn^II cation adopts a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The O atoms of the phenolate ligands bridge three Zn^II cations, forming a dicationic trinuclear metal cluster. The title complex exhibits a strong emission at 469 nm with a quantum yield of 15.5%.