Self-assembly organometallic squares with terpyridyl metal complexes as bridging ligands

A series of novel heterometallic square complexes with the general molecular formulas [fac-Br(CO)(3)Re[mu-(pyterpy)(2)M]](4)(PF(6))(8) and [(dppf)Pd[mu-(pyterpy)(2)Ru]](4)(PF(6))(8)(OTf(8) (4), where M = Fe (1), Ru (2), or Os (3), pyterpy is 4'-(4' "-pyridyl)-2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine, dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and OTf is trifluoromethanesulfonate, were prepared by self-assembly between BrRe(CO)(5) or (dppf)Pd(H(2)O)(2)(OTf)(2) and (pyterpy)(2)M(PF(6))(2). The obtained NMR spectra, IR spectra, electrospray ionization mass spectra, and elemental analyses are all consistent with the proposed square structures incorporating terpyridyl metal complexes as bridging ligands. Multiple redox processes were observed in all square complexes. All four complexes display strong visible absorptions in the region 400-600 nm, which are assigned as metal (Fe, Ru, or Os)-to-ligand (pyterpy) charge transfer (MLCT) bands. Square 3 exhibits an additional weak band at 676 nm, which is assigned to an Os-based (3)MLCT band. For each complex, the bands centered between 279 and 377 nm are assigned as pyterpy-based pi-pi bands and the Re-based MLCT band. Square 3 is luminescent in room-temperature solution, while squares 1, 2, and 4 do not have any detectable luminescence under identical experimental conditions.     

Self-assembly of molecular squares based on easy-to-prepare multidentate Schiff base ligands

The choice of ligands with different spacer length and coordination orientation leads to size, shape and packing differences between two self-assembled molecular squares [Zn4H8L1(4)][PF6]5[NO3]3.S (1) and [Zn4H8L2(4)][PF6]6[NO3]2.S (2) (S = solvent), formed from Zn(NO3)2 and two easy-to-prepare bistridentate Schiff-base ligands.     

Light-harvesting metallosupramolecular squares composed of perylene bisimide walls and fluorescent antenna dyes

The fluorescent dye 4-dimethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide was incorporated at the bay area of N,N'-bispyridyl perylene bisimide to afford a fourfold-functionalized perylene bisimide ligand. Through self-assembly directed by metal-ion coordination, a multichromophore supramolecular entity composed of sixteen dimethylaminonaphthalimide antennas and a perylene bisimide-walled square core was subsequently constructed from this linear ditopic ligand and 90 degrees metal corner [Pd(dppp)](OTf)2 (dppp=1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane; OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate) in good yield. The isolated metallosupramolecular square was characterized by elemental analysis and 1H, 13C, and 31P{1H} NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, by means of 1H NMR diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) the dimension of this assembly was evaluated by employing a previously reported perylene bisimide ligand and its square assembly as references. The results obtained confirm the square framework of the current assembly. The optical properties of this multichromophore dye assembly were investigated by UV/Vis and steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. It was revealed that light captured by dimethylaminonaphthalimide antennas could be efficiently transported to the perylene bisimide core by a fluorescence resonance mechanism (energy-transfer efficiency E=95%), and this resulted in almost exclusive detection of intense perylene bisimide emission, irrespective of the excitation wavelength applied. The present square scaffold containing aminonaphthalimide antenna dyes exhibits more than seven times higher fluorescence quantum yield (Phifl=0.37) than a previously reported pyrene-bearing perylene bisimide-walled square (Phifl=0.05). Thus, this multichromophore square assembly with aminonaphthalimide antenna dyes is an artificial model for the cyclic light-harvesting complexes in purple bacteria.     

Supramolecular chemistry: Self-assembly of titanium based molecular squares

The interaction of Cp₂TiCl₂ with LiC₅H₅N and LiC₁₁H₈N provides Cp₂Ti(Cl)(C₅H₅N) and Cp₂Ti(Cl)(C₁₁H₈N), respectively. Reaction of these species with AgOSO₂CF₃ results in self-assembly of the respective cationic, tetranuclear molecular squares where the required 90° bond angles, demanded by a rectangle, is provided by the distorted tetrahedral bond angles of the coordinated Ti.     

Diastereoselective formation of homochiral flexible perylene bisimide cyclophanes and their hybrids with fullerenes

Cyclophanes of different ring sizes featuring perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimide (PBI) linked by flexible malonates were designed, synthesized, and investigated with respect to their structural, chemical and photo-physical properties. It is predominantly the number of PBIs and their geometric arrangement, which influence dramatically their properties. For example, two-PBI containing cyclophanes reveal physico-chemical characteristics that are governed by strong co-facial π–π interactions. This is in stark contrast to cyclophanes with either three or four PBIs. Key to co-facial π–π stackings are the flexible malonate linkers, which, in turn, set up the ways and means for diastereoselectivity of the homochiral PBIs at low temperatures, on one hand. In terms of selectivity, diastereomeric (M,M)/(P,P) : (M,P)/(P,M) pairs with a ratio of approximately 10 : 1 are discernible in the ¹H NMR spectra in C₂D₂Cl₄ and a complete diastereomeric excess is found in CD₂Cl₂. On the other hand, symmetry-breaking charge transfer as well as charge separation at room temperature are corroborated in steady-state and time-resolved photo-physical investigations. Less favourable are co-facial π–π stackings in the three-PBI containing cyclophanes. For statistical reasons, the diastereoisomers (M,M,M)/(P,P,P) and (M,M,P)/(P,P,M) occur here in a ratio of 1 : 3. In this case, symmetry-breaking charge transfer as well as charge separation are both slowed down. The work was rounded-off by integrating next to the PBIs, for the first time, hydrophobic or hydrophilic fullerenes into the resulting cyclophanes. Our novel fullerene–PBI cyclophanes reveal unprecedented diastereoselective formation of homochiral (M,M)/(P,P) pairs exceeding the traditional host–guest approach. Hybridization with fullerenes allows us to modulate the resulting solubility, stacking, cavity and chirality, which is of tremendous interest in the field.

Perylene bisimide (PBI) cyclophanes linked by flexible malonates were functionalized with fullerenes. Modulation of the chemical environment enhances the chiral self-sorting, leading exclusively to the homochiral diastereomeric pair (M,M)/(P,P).     

Synthesis and near-infrared characteristics of novel perylene bisimide dyes bay-functionalized with naphthalimide chromophores

Novel perylene bisimide dyes bay-functionalized with naphthalimide chromophores have been prepared conveniently by coupling of 1,8-naphthalimide and dibromoperylene bisimides. Their optical properties were investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The absorption spectra of these compounds showed wide spectral responses from 300 to 700 nm,which would be potentials for application as organic solar cells.     

Optoelectronic and charge transport properties of the complex of carbon nanotube with perylene bisimide

In the present study we carried out an investigation on the structure and properties of the complex formed by adsorbing perylene bisimide (PBI) on the surface of (6,6) carbon nanotube (CNT) by employing different dispersion-corrected density functionals (B97D, B3LYP-GD3, and ωB97XD), which showed the complex as stable. The contribution of various components of interaction energy follows the order: dispersion > electrostatic > induction. The lower ionization energy of CNT and the higher electron affinity of PBI revealed that they constitute a donor-acceptor system. Electron density distribution of the frontier molecular orbitals of complex confirmed the photoinduced charge transfer. The charge transport properties of the complex indicated higher hole mobility than electron mobility making it suitable to be used as p-type transistor. The absorption spectrum of the complex showed absorption in the near ultraviolet-visible-near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum suggesting it useful for solar cells.     

Molecular squares, cubes and chains from self-assembly of bis-bidentate bridging ligands with transition metal dications

The two new ligands L(fur) and L(th) consist of two chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine termini connected to furan-2,5-diyl or thiophene-2,5-diyl spacers via methylene groups. Reaction of these with a range of transition metal dications that prefer octahedral coordination affords a series of unusual structures which are all based on a 2M : 3L ratio. [M(8)(L(fur))(12)]X(16) (M = Co, Cu, X = BF(4); and M = Zn, X = ClO(4)) are octanuclear cubes with approximate D(4) symmetry in which two cyclic tetranuclear helicate M(4)L(4) units are connected by four additional 'pillar' ligands. In contrast [Ni(4)(L(fur))(6)](BF(4))(8) is a centrosymmetric molecular square consisting of two dinuclear Ni(2)L(2) units of opposite chirality that are connected by a pair of additional L(fur) ligands such that the four edges of the Ni(4) square are spanned by alternately two and one bridging ligands. [M(4)(L(th))(6)](BF(4))(8) (M = Co, Ni, Cu) are likewise molecular squares with similar structures to [Ni(4)(L(fur))(6)](BF(4))(8) with the significant difference that the two crosslinked double helicate M(2)L(2) units are now homochiral. The Cd(II) complexes both behave quite differently to the first-row metal complexes, with [Cd(L(fur))(BF(4))](BF(4)) being a simple mononuclear complex with a single ligand in which the furan oxygen atom is weakly interacting with the Cd(II) centre. In contrast, in {[Cd(2)(L(th))(3)](BF(4))(4)}(∞), where this quasi-pentadentate coordination mode of the ligand is not possible because thiophene is too poor an electron donor, the ligand reverts to bis-bidentate bridging coordination to afford a one-dimensional chain consisting of an infinite sequence of crosslinked, homochiral, Cd(2)(L(th))(2) double helicate units.     

Spontaneous formation of heteroligated PtII complexes with chelating hemilabile ligands

The spontaneous formation of the heteroligated complex [PtCl(kappa(2)-Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SMe)(Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SPh)]Cl (8 a) by a novel ligand rearrangement process has been observed. By using the weak-link approach, the relative arrangement of the alkyl and aryl groups can be controlled by abstraction of chloride from 8 a to form the closed complex [Pt(kappa(2)-Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SMe)(kappa(2)-Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SPh)][BF(4)](2) (5) and reopening using halide ions to form semi-open complexes [PtX(kappa(2)-Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SMe)(Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SPh)]BF(4) (8 b; X=Cl(-)) and (8 c; X=I(-)). Analogous procedures using Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)SMe and 1,4-(Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)S)(2)C(6)H(4) lead to heteroligated bimetallic complexes 7 and 9, illustrating that this ligand rearrangement process can be used as a tool for the assembly of complementary metallosupramolecular structures.     

Synthesis of annulated thiophene perylene bisimide analogues: their applications to bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

Annulated thiophene perylene bisimides and their triphenyl-amine based oligomers have been synthesized. One of the oligomers FPTTPA has been demonstrated to be an efficient electron donor in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells, giving a power conversion efficiency of 1.42%.     

Synthesis and molecular structures of cyclopentadienyl sulfide complexes of chromium with cymantrenyl-thiolate bridging ligands

Interaction of [Cp₂Cr₂(CO)₄[μ-SC₅H₄Mn(CO)₃]₂ with sulphur gave binuclear complex Cp₂Cr₂[μ-SC₅H₄Mn(CO)₃]₂(μ-S) (I) (Cp = π-C₅H₅) and triangular cluster Cp₃Cr₃[μ-SC₅H₄Mn(CO)₃](μ-S)₂(μ₃-S) (II). I was also synthesized from Cp₂Cr₂(μ-SCMe₃)₂(μ-S) and (CO)₃Mn(C₅H₄SH). Interaction between I and Co₂(CO)₈ resulted in triangular mixed-metal cluster Cp₂Cr₂[μ-SC₅H₄Mn(CO)₃](μ³-S)₂Co(CO)₂ (III). The molecular structures of I–III were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Self-assembly of transition-metal-based macrocycles linked by photoisomerizable ligands: examples of photoinduced conversion of tetranuclear-dinuclear squares

A series of hetero- and homometallic square complexes bridged by a photoactive 4,4'-azopyridine (AZP) or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (BPE) ligand, cyclobis[[cis-(dppf)M](mu-L)(2)(fac-Re(CO)(3)Br)](OTf)(4) (M = Pd, L = trans-AZP (5); M = Pt, L = trans-AZP (7); M = Pd, L = trans-BPE (8); M = Pt, L = trans-BPE (10)), cyclo[[cis-(dppf)M](mu-L)(2)(fac-Re(CO)(3)Br)](OTf)(2) (M = Pd, L = cis-AZP (6); M = Pd, L = cis-BPE (9)), [cis-(dppf)Pd(mu-trans-AZP)](4)(OTf)(8) (11), and [cis-(dppf)Pd(mu-cis-AZP)](2)(OTf)(4) (12), where dppf is 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and OTf is trifluoromethanesulfonate anion, were prepared by thermodynamically driven self-assembly processes. The photophysical and photochemical properties of these complexes have been investigated, and all of them show a lack of luminescence in room temperature solution. Upon irradiation at 313 or 366 nm, Pd(II)-Re(I)-containing tetranuclear squares 5, 8, and 11 undergo photoisomerization and convert to their corresponding dinuclear complexes 6, 9, and 12, whereas Pt(II)-Re(I)-based squares 7 and 10 show only slow square disassembling processes. The tetranuclear squares can be fully recovered by heating the photoisomerized solution for several hours.     

Synthetic approaches to polypyridyl bridging ligands with proximal multidentate binding sites

[reactions: see text] A series of 12 bridging ligands was prepared. These ligands include a central linker appended to two 1,8-naphthyrid-2-yl or two 1,10-phenanthrolin-2-yl units. The linkers include pyridazin-3,6-diyl, 1,8-naphthyrid-2,7-diyl, 2,2'-bipyrid-6,6'-diyl, 1,10-phenanthrolin-2,9-diyl, 1,2-di(2'-pyrid-6'-yl)ethyne, and 3,6-di(2'-pyrid-6'-yl)pyridazine. The ligands were synthesized from the diacetyl derivative of the central linker by a Friedl?nder condensation with either 2-aminonicotinaldehyde or 8-amino-7-quinolinecarbaldehyde. The precursor diacetyl derivatives were, in turn, prepared by pathways involving Stille and Sonogashira couplings. Examination of the electronic absorption spectra of the bridging ligands shows the strongest correlation to be between pairs of ligands having the same central linker. Complexation studies will follow.     

Synthesis of n-type perylene bisimide derivatives and their orthogonal self-assembly with p-type oligo(p-phenylene vinylene)s

Four different (chiral) electron-deficient (n-type) perylene bisimides containing aliphatic, aromatic, or ethyleneoxide side chaines have been synthesized and fully characterized. All of them form supramolecular stacks in apolar methylcyclohexane (MCH) solution as demonstrated by concentration- and temperature-dependent absorption, circular dichroism, and fluorescence studies. One derivative was investigated in more detail in the solid state and proven to be liquid crystalline and capable of forming nanometer-sized fiberlike networks when drop-cast from MCH. Optical spectroscopy techniques show that perylene bisimide and an oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) (p-type) derivative orthogonally self-assemble into separate nanosized p-and n-type stacks in MCH. In contrast in toluene only molecularly dissolved species are present. In films deposited from MCH as well as from toluene photoinduced electron transfer takes place from the p-type material to the n-type material. As a result of the orthogonal self-assembly process, in films from MCH an ordered network of fibers was formed, whereas in films from toluene no ordering was observed. However, probably due to the lateral orientation on the surface and the presence of long aliphatic chains pointing toward the electrodes, efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells could not be constructed.     

Evaluation of binding of perylene diimide and benzannulated perylene diimide ligands to dna by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and spectroscopic studies in solution were used to evaluate the self-association, G-quadruplex DNA binding, and selectivity of a series of perylene diimides (PDIs) (PIPER, Tel01, Tel11, Tel12, and Tel18) or benzannulated perylene diimide ligands (Tel34 and Tel32). Fluorescence and resonance light scattering spectra of Tel01, Tel12, Tel32, and Tel34 reveal that these analogs undergo self-association in solution. UV-Vis and fluorescence titrations with G-quadruplex, duplex, or single-stranded DNA demonstrate that all the analogs, with the exception of Tel32, bind to G-quadruplex DNA, with those PDIs that are self-associated in solution showing the highest degree of selectivity for binding G-quadruplex DNA. Parallel ESI-MS analysis of the stoichiometries demonstrates the ability of the ligands, with the exception of Tel32, to bind to G-quadruplex DNA. While most ligands show major 1:1 and 2:1 binding stoichiometries as expected in the case of end-stacking, interestingly, three of the most quadruplex-selective ligands show a different behavior. Tel01 forms 3:1 complexes, while Tel12 and Tel32 only form 1:1 complexes. Collisional activation dissociation patterns are compatible with ligand binding to G-quadruplex DNA via stacking on the ends of the terminal G-tetrads. Experiments with duplex and single strand DNA were performed to assess the binding selectivities of the ligands. PIPER, Tel11, and Tel18 demonstrated extensive complexation with duplex DNA, while Tel11 and Tel18 bound to single strand DNA, confirming the lack of selectivity of these two ligands. Our results indicate that Tel01, Tel12, and Tel34 are the most selective for G-quadruplex DNA.     

Ruthenium molecular wires with conjugated bridging ligands: onset of band formation in linear inorganic conjugated oligomers

We have prepared and characterized a series of multimetallic oligomers of Ru using the pi-conjugated bridging ligand tetra-2-pyridyl-1,4-pyrazine (tppz), as well as mixed-ligand complexes with terpyridine end caps, and analyzed their electrochemical and spectroscopic properties, comparing them with modern computational electronic structure methods. The results suggest that the high degree of metal-metal interunit communication in these linear oligomers yields low HOMO-LUMO gaps, high delocalization, and the onset of "quasi-band" features, all indicative that these compounds should be excellent molecular wire materials. Recent spectroscopic and excited-state analyses of these and related compounds focus on optically accessible states, which ignore optically silent frontier electronic states more relevant to nanoelectronic applications.     

Synthesis of novel platinum-silver and platinum-copper complexes with bridging alkynyl ligands

The study of the reactivity of [Pt₂M₄(CCR)₈] (M=Ag or cu; R=Ph or ^tBu) towards different neutral and anionic ligands is reported. This study reveals that reactions of the phenylacetylide derivatives [Pt₂M₄(CCPh)₈] with anionic, X⁻ (X=Cl or Br) or neutral donors (CN^tBu or py) in a molar ratio 1:4 (m/donor ratio 1:1) yield the trinuclear anionic (NBu₄)₂[{Pt(CCPh)₄ (MX)₂] (M=Ag or Cu, X =Cl or Br) or neutral [{Pt(CCPh0₄=sAGL)₂] (L=CN^tBu or py) complexes, respectively. The crystal structure of (NBu₄)₂[{Pt(CCPh)₄}(CuBr)₂](4) shows that the anion is formed by a dianionic Pt(CCPh)₄ fragment and two neutral CuBr units joined through bridging alkynyl ligands. All the alkynyl groups are σ bonded to Pt and η²-coordinated to a Cu atom which have an approximately trigonal-planar geometry. By contrast, similar reactions with [Pt₂M₄(CC^tBu)₈] (molar ratio M/donor 1:1) afford hexanuclear dianionic (NBu₄)₂[Pt₂M₄(CC^tBu)₈X₂] or neutral [Pt₂Ag₄(CC^tBu0₈Py₂]. Only by treatment with a large exces of Br ⁻ (molar ratio M/Br⁻ 1:2) are the trinuclear complexes (NBu₄)₂[{Pt(CC^tBu₄ (MBr)₂] (M=Ag, Cu) obtained. Attempted preparations of analogous complexes with phosphines (L′=PPh₃ or PEt₃) by reactions of [Pt₂M₄(CCR₈] with L′ leads to displacement of alkynyl ligands from platinum and formation of neutral mononuclear complexes [trans-Pt(CCR)₂L′₂].