Coordination site-dependent cation binding and multi-responsible redox properties of Janus-head metalloligand, [Mo(V)(1,2-mercaptophenolato)3

The redox-active fac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-) (mp: o-mercaptophenolato) bearing asymmetric O- and S-cation binding sites can bind with several kinds of metal ions such as Na(+), Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(I). The fac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-) metalloligand coordinates to Na(+) to form the contact ion pair {Na(+)(THF)(3)fac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)]} (1), while a separated ion pair, n-Bu(4)Nfac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)] (2), is obtained by exchanging Na(+) with n-Bu(4)N(+). In the presence of asymmetric binding-sites, the metalloligand reacts with Mn(II)Cl(2)·4H(2)O, Fe(II)Cl(2)·4H(2)O, Co(II)Cl(2)·6H(2)O, and Ni(II)Cl(2)·6H(2)O to afford UV-vis-NIR spectra, indicating binding of these guest metal cations. Especially, for the cases of the Mn(II) and Co(II) products, trinuclear complexes, {M(H(2)O)(MeOH)fac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)](2)}·1.5CH(2)Cl(2) (3·1.5CH(2)Cl(2) (M = Mn(II)), 4·1.5CH(2)Cl(2) (M = Co(II))), are successfully isolated and structurally characterized where the M are selectively bound to the hard O-binding sites of the fac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-). On the other hand, a coordination polymer, {Cu(I)(CH(3)CN)mer-Mo(V)(mp)(3)]}(n) (5), is obtained by the reaction of fac-Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-) with Cu(I)(CH(3)CN)(4)]ClO(4). In sharp contrast to the cases of 1, 3·1.5CH(2)Cl(2), and 4·1.5CH(2)Cl(2), the Cu(I) in 5 are selectively bound to the soft S-binding sites, where each Cu(I) is shared by two Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-) with bidentate or monodentate coordination modes. The second notable feature of 5 is found in the geometric change of the Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-), where the original fac-form of 1 is isomerized to the mer-Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-) in 5, which was structurally and spectroscopically characterized for the first time. Such isomerization demonstrates the structural flexibility of the Mo(V)(mp)(3)](-). Spectroscopic studies strongly indicate that the association/dissociation between the guest metal ions and metalloligand can be modulated by solvent polarity. Furthermore, it was also found that such association/dissociation features are significantly influenced by coexisting anions such as ClO(4)(-) or B(C(6)F(5))(4)(-). This suggests that coordination bonds between the guest metal ions and metalloligand are not too static, but are sufficiently moderate to be responsive to external environments. Moreover, electrochemical data of 1 and 3·1.5CH(2)Cl(2) demonstrated that guest metal ion binding led to enhance electron-accepting properties of the metalloligand. Our results illustrate the use of a redox-active chalcogenolato complex with a simple mononuclear structure as a multifunctional metalloligand that is responsive to chemical and electrochemical stimuli.