An expanded neutral M4L6 cage that encapsulates four tetrahydrofuran molecules

A large 4,4'-biphenylene-spaced bis-β-diketone ligand is demonstrated to form a neutral tetrahedral M(4)L(6) metal-organic cage that encloses a volume of 844 ?(3) and encapsulates four tetrahydrofuran guest molecules.     

Self-assembly of an iron(II)-based M5L6 metallosupramolecular cage

A pentanuclear M(5)L(6) coordination cage is self-assembled in solution from a rigid linear heteroditopic phen-tpy ligand and an iron (II) salt.     

Structures and anion-binding properties of M4L6 tetrahedral cage complexes with large central cavities

Reaction of the bis-bidentate bridging ligand L(3), in which two bidentate chelating 3(2-pyridyl)pyrazole units are separated by a 3,3'-biphenyl spacer, with Co(II) salts affords tetranuclear cage complexes of composition [Co(4)(L(3))(6)]X(8)(X =[BF(4)](-), [ClO(4)](-), [PF(6)](-) or I(-)) in which four 6-coordinate Co(II) ions in an approximately tetrahedral array are connected by six bis-bidentate bridging ligands, one spanning each of the six edges of the Co(4) tetrahedron. In every case, X-ray crystallography reveals that the 'apical' Co(II) ion has a fac tris-chelate geometry, whereas the other three Co(II) ions have mer tris-chelate geometries, resulting in (non-crystallographic)C(3) symmetry for the cages; that this structure is retained in solution is confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy of the paramagnetic cages. In every case one of the anions is located inside the central cavity of the cage, with the remaining seven outside. We found no clear evidence for an anion-based templating effect. The cage superstructure is sufficiently large to leave gaps in the centres of the faces through which the internal and external anions can exchange. Variable-temperature (19)F NMR spectroscopy was used to investigate the dynamic behaviour of the cages with X =[BF(4)](-) and [PF(6)](-) in MeCN solution: in both cases two separate signals, corresponding to external and internal anions, are clear at 233 K which have coalesced to a single signal at room temperature. Analysis of the linewidth of the minor signal (for the internal anion) at various temperatures below coalescence gave an activation energy for anion exchange of ca. 50 kJ mol(-1) in each case, a figure which suggests that anion exchange can occur via a conformational rearrangement of the cage superstructure in solution rather than opening of the cavity by cleavage of metal-ligand bonds.     

Structures, host-guest chemistry and mechanism of stepwise self-assembly of M4L6 tetrahedral cage complexes

The ligand L(bip), containing two bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine termini separated by a 3,3'-biphenyl spacer, has been used to prepare tetrahedral cage complexes of the form [M(4)(L(bip))(6)]X(8), in which a bridging ligand spans each of the six edges of the M(4) tetrahedron. Several new examples have been structurally characterized with a variety of metal cation and different anions in order to examine interactions between the cationic cage and various anions. Small anions such as BF(4)(-) and NO(3)(-) can occupy the central cavity where they are anchored by an array of CH···F or CH···O hydrogen-bonding interactions with the interior surface of the cage, but larger anions such as naphthyl-1-sulfonate or tetraphenylborate lie outside the cavity and interact with the external surface of the cage via CH···π interactions or CH···O hydrogen bonds. The cages with M = Co and M = Cd have been examined in detail by NMR spectroscopy. For [Co(4)(L(bip))(6)](BF(4))(8) the (1)H NMR spectrum is paramagnetically shifted over the range -85 to +110 ppm, but the spectrum has been completely assigned by correlation of measured T(1) relaxation times of each peak with Co···H distances. (19)F DOSY measurements on the anions show that at low temperature a [BF(4)](-) anion diffuses at a similar rate to the cage superstructure surrounding it, indicating that it is trapped inside the central cage cavity. Furthermore, the equilibrium step-by-step self-assembly of the cage superstructure has been elucidated by detailed modeling of spectroscopic titrations at multiple temperatures of an acetonitrile solution of L(bip) into an acetonitrile solution of Co(BF(4))(2). Six species have been identified: [Co(2)L(bip)](4+), [Co(2)(L(bip))(2)](4+), [Co(4)(L(bip))(6)](8+), [Co(4)(L(bip))(8)](8+), [Co(2)(L(bip))(5)](4+), and [Co(L(bip))(3)](2+). Overall the assembly of the cage is entropy, and not enthalpy, driven. Once assembled, the cages show remarkable kinetic inertness due to their mechanically entangled nature: scrambling of metal cations between the sites of pure Co(4) and Cd(4) cages to give a statistical mixture of Co(4), Co(3)Cd, Co(2)Cd(2), CoCd(3) and Cd(4) cages takes months in solution at room temperature.     

Design, formation and properties of tetrahedral M(4)L(4) and M(4)L(6) supramolecular clusters

The rigid tris- and bis(catecholamide) ligands H(6)A, H(4)B and H(4)C form tetrahedral clusters of the type M(4)L(4) and M(4)L(6) through self-assembly reactions with tri- and tetravalent metal ions such as Ga(III), Fe(III), Ti(IV) and Sn(IV). General design principles for the synthesis of such clusters are presented with an emphasis on geometric requirements and kinetic and thermodynamic considerations. The solution and solid-state characterization of these complexes is presented, and their dynamic solution behavior is described. The tris-catecholamide H(6)A forms M(4)L(4) tetrahedra with Ga(III), Ti(IV), and Sn(IV); (Et(3)N)(8)[Ti(4)A(4)] crystallizes in R3(-)c (No. 167), with a = 22.6143(5) A, c = 106.038(2) A. The cluster is a racemic mixture of homoconfigurational tetrahedra (all Delta or all Lambda at the metal centers within a given cluster). Though the synthetic procedure for synthesis of the cluster is markedly metal-dependent, extensive electrospray mass spectrometry investigations show that the M(4)A(4) (M = Ga(III), Ti(IV), and Sn(IV)) clusters are remarkably stable once formed. Two approaches are presented for the formation of M(4)L(6) tetrahedral clusters. Of the bis(catecholamide) ligands, H(4)B forms an M(4)L(6) tetrahedron (M = Ga(III)) based on an "edge-on" design, while H(4)C forms an M(4)L(6) tetrahedron (M = Ga(III), Fe(III)) based on a "face-on" strategy. K(5)[Et(4)N](7)[Fe(4)C(6)] crystallizes in I43(-)d (No. 220) with a = 43.706(8) A. This M(4)L(6) tetrahedral cluster is also a racemic mixture of homoconfigurational tetrahedra and has a cavity large enough to encapsulate a molecule of Et(4)N(+). This host-guest interaction is maintained in solution as revealed by NMR investigations of the Ga(III) complex.     

Guest exchange dynamics in an M4L6 tetrahedral host

Guest exchange in an M(4)L(6) supramolecular assembly was previously demonstrated to proceed through a nonrupture mechanism in which guests squeeze through apertures in the host structure and not through larger portals created by partial assembly dissociation. Focusing on the [Ga(4)L(6)](12-) assembly [L = 1,5-bis(2',3'-dihydroxybenzamido)naphthalene], the host-guest kinetic behavior of this supramolecular capsule is defined. Guest self-exchange rates at varied temperatures and pressures were measured to determine activation parameters, revealing negative DeltaS and positive DeltaV values [PEt(4)(+): DeltaH = 74(3) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -46(6) J mol(-1) K(-1), k(298) = 0.003 s(-)); NEt(4)(+): DeltaH = 69(2) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -52(5) J mol(-1) K(-1), k(298) = 0.009 s(-1); NMe(2)Pr(2)(+): DeltaH = 52(2) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -56(7) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaV = +13(1) cm(3) mol(-1), k(298) = 4.4 s(-1); NPr(4)(+): DeltaH = 42(1) kJ mol(-1), DeltaS = -102(4) J mol(-1) K(-1), DeltaV = +31(2) cm(3) mol(-1), k(298) = 1.4 s(-1)]. In PEt(4)(+) for NEt(4)(+) exchange reactions, egress of the initial guest (G1) is found to be rate determining, with increasing G1 and G2 (the displacing guest) concentrations inhibiting guest exchange. This inhibition is explained by the decreased flexibility of the host imparted by exterior, or exohedral, guest interactions by both the G1 and G2 guests. Blocking the exohedral host sites with high concentrations of the smaller NMe(4)(+) cation (a weak endohedral guest) enhances PEt(4)(+) for NEt(4)(+) guest exchange rates. Finally, guest displacement reactions also demonstrate the sensitivity of guest exchange to thermodynamic endohedral guest binding affinities. When the initial guest (G1) has a weaker affinity for the host, G2 concentration dependence is observed in addition to dependence on the G2 binding strength.     

Reversible reduction drives anion ejection and C60 binding within an FeII4L6 cage

Fe^II₄L₆ tetrahedral cage 1 was prepared from a redox-active dicationic naphthalenediimide (NDI) ligand. The +20 charge of the cage makes it a good host for anionic guests, with no binding observed for neutral aromatic molecules. Following reduction by Cp₂Co, the cage released anionic guests; subsequent oxidation by AgNTf₂ led to re-uptake of anions. In its reduced form, however, 1 was observed to bind neutral C₆₀. The fullerene guest was subsequently ejected following cage re-oxidation. The guest release process was found to be facilitated by anion-mediated transport from organic to aqueous solution. Cage 1 thus employs electron transfer as a stimulus to control the uptake and release of both neutral and charged guests, through distinct pathways.

Fe^II₄L₆ cage 1 binds anionic guests but not neutral guests. In its reduced form, the cage can bind neutral C₆₀. Reduction and oxidation of the cage could thus be used as a stimulus to control the uptake and release of both neutral and charged guests.     

Selective Co‐Encapsulation Inside an M6L4 Cage

There is broad interest in molecular encapsulation as such systems can be utilized to stabilize guests, facilitate reactions inside a cavity, or give rise to energy‐transfer processes in a confined space. Detailed understanding of encapsulation events is required to facilitate functional molecular encapsulation. In this contribution, it is demonstrated that Ir and Rh‐Cp‐type metal complexes can be encapsulated inside a self‐assembled M₆L₄ metallocage only in the presence of an aromatic compound as a second guest. The individual guests are not encapsulated, suggesting that only the pair of guests can fill the void of the cage. Hence, selective co‐encapsulation is observed. This principle is demonstrated by co‐encapsulation of a variety of combinations of metal complexes and aromatic guests, leading to several ternary complexes. These experiments demonstrate that the efficiency of formation of the ternary complexes depends on the individual components. Moreover, selective exchange of the components is possible, leading to formation of the most favorable complex. Besides the obvious size effect, a charge‐transfer interaction may also contribute to this effect. Charge‐transfer bands are clearly observed by UV/Vis spectrophotometry. A change in the oxidation potential of the encapsulated electron donor also leads to a shift in the charge‐transfer energy bands. As expected, metal complexes with a higher oxidation potential give rise to a higher charge‐transfer energy and a larger hypsochromic shift in the UV/Vis spectrum. These subtle energy differences may potentially be used to control the binding and reactivity of the complexes bound in a confined space.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of an M4L6 tetrahedral cage with outward‐facing pockets from a substituted pyrazolyl–pyridine ligand

The self‐assembly of metal–polydentate ligands to give supramolecular tetrahedral complexes is of considerable current interest. A new ligand, 4‐benzyl‐2‐[1‐(2‐{[3‐(4‐benzylpyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]methyl}benzyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl]pyridine (L), with chelating pyrazolyl–pyridine units substituted on the 4‐position of the pyridyl ring with benzyl units, has been synthesized and fully characterized. The self‐assembly of L with cobalt(II) gave rise to a tetrahedral cage (hexakis{μ‐4‐benzyl‐2‐[1‐(2‐{[3‐(4‐benzylpyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐yl]methyl}benzyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐3‐yl]pyridine}perchloratotetracobalt(II) octakis(perchlorate) acetonitrile undecasolvate, [Co₄(ClO₄)(C₃₈H₃₂N₆)₆](ClO₄)₇·11CH₃CN) with approximate T symmetry. The X‐ray crystal structure of the cage, i.e. [Co₄L₆ClO₄](ClO₄)₇, shows that the substituted benzyl groups are oriented away from the centres of their respective ligands towards the Co^II vertices, making small outward‐facing pockets from three benzyl rings at the corners of the tetrahedron.     

Spontaneous Resolution of an Electron‐Deficient Tetrahedral Fe4L4 cage

A highly electron‐deficient C₃‐symmetric tris(bipyridyl) ligand was prepared in four steps and used for the coordination of Fe(OTf)₂, thereby resulting in the homochiral assembly of a new family of robust tetrahedral M₄L₄ cages. This homochiral T‐symmetric cage containing a relatively large cavity of 330 ų is capable of encapsulating an anionic guest, as was determined by mass spectrometry, ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, and finally shown from its crystal structure. Moreover, crystallization of the cage from CH₃CN led to crystals containing both (ΔΔΔΔ and ΛΛΛΛ) enantiomers, while crystallization from CH₃OH resulted in crystals containing only the right‐handed (ΔΔΔΔ) cage. The difference in the crystal packing of the two crystal structures is discussed and a feasible explanation for the unique phenomenon among supramolecular cages—spontaneous resolution—is given.     

The big squeeze: guest exchange in an M4L6 supramolecular host

Guest exchange in an M4L6 supramolecular host has been evaluated to determine whether host rupture is required for guest ingress and egress. Two mechanistic models were evaluated: one requiring partial dissociation of the host structure to create a portal for guest passage and one necessitating deformation of the host structure to create a dilated aperture for guest passage without host rupture. Three related lines of inquiry support the nondissociative guest exchange mechanism. (a) Equally facile guest exchange is observed in labile ([Ga4L6]12-) and inert ([Ti4L6]8- and [Ge4L6]8-) hosts. (b) Molecular mechanics calculations demonstrate that the structural deformations required for enlargement of an M4L6 aperture in a nonrupture or nondissociative guest exchange mechanism are plausible. (c) As predicted by the calculations, CoCp*2+, a sterically demanding guest, significantly inhibits guest exchange. These results bring new insight to the application of the M4L6 supramolecular host for encapsulated reaction chemistry for which there are now several examples.     

Guanidinium binding modulates guest exchange within an [M4L6] capsule

Take it slow! A metal-organic container molecule has been shown to bind guanidinium cations (blue) between the sulfonate groups on its periphery, as well as accommodating guests such as cyclopentane and cyclohexane in its internal cavity (red). Kinetic studies on the system demonstrated a linear relationship between the amount of bound guanidinium ions and the rate of guest exchange.     

Guest-induced formation of an icosahedral coordination cage

A coordination cage with an elusive icosahedral geometry was obtained by K+-induced rearrangement of a hexanuclear [(cymene)Ru(pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate)]6 complex.     

Synthesis and magnetic behavior of the tetrahedral cage complex [(cyclen)4V4(CN)6]6+

Reaction of [(cyclen)V(CF(3)SO(3))(2)](CF(3)SO(3)) with 4 equiv. of Et(4)N(CN) in DMF generates the seven-coordinate complex [(cyclen)V(CN)(3)], while a reaction employing just 1.5 equiv. produces a tetrahedral cage complex, [(cyclen)(4)V(4)(CN)(6)](6+), in which antiferromagnetic coupling leads to an S= 0 ground state.     

An atropisomeric M2L4 cage mixture displaying guest-induced convergence and strong guest emission in water

Introduction of atropisomeric axes into a bent bispyridine ligand leads to the quantitative formation of a complex mixture of atropisomeric M₂L₄ cages upon treatment with metal ions. Whereas the isomer ratio of the obtained cage mixture, consisting of up to 42 isomers, is insensitive to temperature and solvent, the quantitative convergence from the mixture to a single isomer is accomplished upon encapsulation of a large spherical guest, namely fullerene C₆₀. The observed isomerization with other guests depends largely on their size and shape (e.g., <10 and 82% convergence with planar triphenylene and bowl-shaped corannulene guests, respectively). Besides the unusual guest-induced convergence, the present cage mixture displays the strongest guest emission (Φ_F = 68%) among previously reported M_nL_m cages and capsules, upon encapsulation of a BODIPY dye in water.

A complex mixture of atropisomeric M₂L₄ cages is shown to undergo perfect convergence to a single isomer upon encapsulation of spherical C₆₀ in water. Moreover, the cage mixture displays very strong guest emission upon encapsulation of a BODIPY dye.     

Resolution of chiral, tetrahedral M4L6 metal-ligand hosts

The supramolecular metal-ligand assemblies of M416 stoichiometry are chiral (M = GaIII, AlIII, InIII, FeIII, TiIV, or GeIV, H41 = N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-1,5-diaminonaphthalene). The resolution process of delta delta delta delta- and lambda lambda lambda lambda-[M(4)1(6)]12- by the chiral cation S-nicotinium (S-nic+) is described for the Ga(III), Al(III), and Fe(III) assemblies, and the resolution is shown to be proton dependent. From a methanol solution of M(acac)3, H(4)1, S-nicI, and KOH, the delta delta delta delta-KH3(S-nic)7[(S-nic) subset M(4)1(6)] complexes precipitate, and the lambda lambda lambda lambda-K6(S-nic)5[(S-nic) subset M(4)1(6)] complexes subsequently can be isolated from the supernatant. Ion exchange enables the isolation of the (NEt4(+))(12), (NMe4(+))(12), and K+(12) salts of the resolved structures, which have been characterized by CD and NMR spectroscopies. Resolution can also be accomplished with 1 equiv of NEt4+ blocking the cavity interior, demonstrating that external binding sites are responsible for the difference in S-nic+ enantiomer interactions. Circular dichroism data demonstrate that the (NMe4(+))(12) and (NEt4(+))(12) salts of the resolved [Ga(4)1(6)]12- and [Al(4)1(6)]12- structures retain their chirality over extended periods of time (>20 d) at room temperature; heating the (NEt4(+))(12)[Ga(4)1(6)] assembly to 75 degrees C also had no effect on its CD spectrum. Finally, experiments with the resolved K(12)[Ga(4)1(6)] assemblies point to the role of a guest in stabilizing the resolved framework.     

Chiral self-discrimination in a M3L2 subphthalocyanine cage

A tris(3-pyridyl)-substituted C3 symmetric subphthalocyanine (SubPc) was dimerized into a M3L2 cage in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of (en)Pd(NO3)2. NMR studies demonstrated the recognition event to be accompanied by chiral self-discrimination between the two enantiomers of the SubPc. Moreover, the specificity is such that only one of four possible isomers was detected in solution.     

Diastereoselective formation of cyclochiral amino acids-substituted resorcin[4]arenes

The Mannich reaction between selectively tetratosylated resorcin[4]arene, formaldehyde and (S)-phenylalanine (or (S)-phenylglycine) methylamide gave cyclochiral mono- or dibenzoxazines with high diastereoselection as revealed by NMR and X-ray structural studies. X-ray structures of the products show the variety of intramolecular interactions that can be responsible for the diastereoselection of this acid-catalyzed reaction.