A Solvent Switch for the Stabilization of Multiple Hemiacetals on an Inorganic Platform: Role of Supramolecular Interactions

Reaction of Zn(OAc)₂ ? 2 H₂O with 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl phosphate (dippH₂) in the presence of pyridine‐4‐carboxaldehyde (Py‐4‐CHO) in methanol resulted in the isolation of a tetrameric zinc phosphate cluster Zn(dipp)(Py‐4‐CH(OH)(OMe))]₄ ? 4 MeOH ( 1 ) with four hemiacetal moieties stabilized on the double‐4‐ring inorganic cubane cluster. The change of solvent from methanol to acetonitrile leads to the formation of Zn(dipp)(Py‐4‐CHO)]₄ ( 2 ), in which the coordinated Py‐4‐CHO retains its aldehydic form. Dissolution of 1 in CD₃CN readily converts it to the aldehydic form and yields 2 . Similarly 2 , which exists in the aldehyde form in CD₃CN, readily converts to the hemiacetal form in CD₃OD/CH₃OH. Compound 1 is an unprecedented example in which four hemiacetals have been stabilized on a single molecule in the solid state retaining its stability in solution as revealed by its ¹H NMR spectrum in CD₃OD. The solution stability of 1 and 2 has further been confirmed by ESI‐MS studies. To generalize the stabilization of multiple hemiacetals on a single double‐four‐ring platform, pyridine‐2‐carboxaldehyde (Py‐2‐CHO) was used as the auxiliary ligand in the reaction between zinc acetate and dippH₂, leading to isolation of Zn(dipp)(Py‐2‐CH(OH)(OMe))]₄ ( 3 ). Understandably, recrystallization of 3 from acetonitrile yields the parent aldehydic form, Zn(dipp)(Py‐2‐CHO)]₄ ( 4 ). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies reveal that supramolecular bonding, aided by hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving the hemiacetal functionalities (C?OH, C?OMe, and C?H), are responsible for the observed stabilization. The hemiacetal/aldehyde groups in 1 and 2 readily react with p‐toluidine, 2,6‐dimethylaniline, and 4‐bromoaniline to yield the corresponding tetra‐Schiff base ligands, Zn(dipp)(L)]₄ (L=4‐methyl‐N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylidene)aniline ( 5 ), 2,6‐dimethyl‐N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylene)‐aniline ( 6 ), and 4‐bromo‐N‐(pyridin‐4‐ylmethylene)aniline ( 7 )). Isolation of 5 – 7 opens up further possibilities of using 1 and 2 as new supramolecular synthons and ligands.