Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Supramolecular Adducts of Macrocyclic Cavitand Cucurbituril with Chromium(III) and Nickel(II) Aqua Complexes

Supramolecular compounds {[Cr(H₂O)₆](C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)}(NO₃)₃ · 13H₂O (I) and {[Ni(H₂O)₆]₂(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)}(SO₄)₂ · 16H₂O (II) were obtained from aqueous solutions of chromium nitrate or nickel sulfate and the macrocyclic cavitand cucurbituril. According to X-ray diffraction analysis data, the cucurbituril molecule is closed from both sides by metal aqua complexes due to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the cucurbituril CO groups and aqua ligands. Compound I has a chain structure, while the structure of compound II is layered. Modes of cucurbituril coordination, depending on the size and charge of the metal cation, are discussed.     

Sc(III), Eu(III), and Gd(III) Complexes with Macrocyclic Cavitand Cucurbit[6]uril: Synthesis and Crystal Structures

Slow evaporation of solutions of Sc and Eu nitrates with macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[6]uril gives crystals of isostructural complexes [Sc(NO₃)(H₂O)₄(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)](NO₃)₂ ? 8.5H₂O (space group Pna2₁, a = 32.0065(18) Å, b = 14.7904(8) Å, c = 11.5774(6) Å, V = 5480.6(5) ų, Z = 4) and [Eu(NO₃)(H₂O)₄(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)](NO₃)₂ ? 6.75H₂O (space group Pna2₁, a = 31.9525(17) Å, b = 14.7203(8) Å, c = 11.8592(6) Å, V = 5578.0(5) ų, Z = 4). The metal to ligand ratio in these complexes is 1 : 1; the complexes are obtained at 0.025–0.1 mol/l concentrations of the metals in solutions. With higher lanthanide concentrations (0.7–1 mol/l), the 2 : 1 complex with cucurbit[6]uril is formed of the composition [{ Gd(NO₃)(H₂O)₅}₂(C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)](NO₃)₄ ? 6.5H₂O (space group \(P\bar 1\), a = 13.3972(6) Å, b = 14.4994(5) Å, c = 18.3290(8) Å, α = 73.5610(10)°, β = 87.2590(10)°, γ = 87.5540(10)°, V = 3409.4(2) ų, Z = 2) and isotypical complex [{Gd(NO₃)(H₂O)₅}₂{(C₅H₅N) ? (C₃₆H₃₆N₂₄O₁₂)}](NO₃)₄ ? 8H₂O with a pyridine molecule inside the cucurbit[6]uril cavity (space group P2₁/n, a = 14.8263(6) Å, b = 13.3688(7) Å, c = 18.5970(9) Å, β = 107.5860(10)°, V = 3513.8(3) ų, Z = 2). According to X-ray diffraction data, the metal atoms of the title complexes coordinate the O atoms in portals of cucurbit[6]uril molecules.