Self-assembly of three-dimensional M3L2 cages via a new flexible organometallic clip

The simple combination of tritopic pyridine donor linkers with a new flexible acceptor "clip" in a 2:3 stoichiometric ratio generates three-dimensional M3L2 cages which possess large cavities in essentially quantitative yields.     

Metal-directed formation of three-dimensional M(3)L(2) trigonal-bipyramidal cages

[reaction: see text] The simple combination of two angular tritopic pyridine donor linkers (109 degrees bond angle) with three ditopic platinum acceptors (90 degrees bond angle) leads to essentially quantitative formation of self-assembled M(3)L(2) trigonal-bipyramidal (TBP) supramolecular species.     

Self-assembly of a novel macrotricyclic Pd(II) metallocage encapsulating a nitrate ion

Complexation of the ligand 1 with Pd(NO3)2 leads to the self-assembly of a very stable M2L4 type macrotricyclic cage that encapsulates a nitrate ion inside its cavity.     

Self-assembly and host-guest chemistry of big metallosupramolecular M4L4 tetrahedra

Metallosupramolecular tetrahedra M8[L4Ti4] are easily obtained by self-assembly from the triangular ligands L-H6 and titanoyl bis(acetylacetonate) in the presence of alkali metal carbonates as base. All the complexes can be well characterized by 1H NMR in combination with ESI FT-ICR MS. Force field calculations reveal that the tetrahedra show Ti-Ti separations of 17 angstroms ([L1(4)Ti4]8-) and 23.5 angstroms ([L2(4)Ti4]8-), respectively, leading to huge internal cavities. The cavity is readily shielded in the case of L1 but possesses big pores with the bigger ligand L2. [L1(4)Ti4]8- was used to investigate the host-guest chemistry of these container molecules and it was found that cationic organic guest species like anilinium can be introduced in the interior of the complex. Inclusion is nicely followed by NMR spectroscopy. Upon addition of one equivalent of guest the symmetry of the tetrahedron is lost but is regained after addition of significantly more than four equivalents.     

Self-assembly of [M8L4] and [M4L2] fluorescent metallomacrocycles with carbazole-based dipyrazole ligands

Fluorescent carbazole-based dipyrazole ligands (H(2)L(1-4)) were employed to coordinate with dipalladium corners ([(phen)(2)Pd(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))(2), [(dmbpy)(2)Pd(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))(2), or [(15-crown-5-phen)(2)Pd(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))(2), where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline and dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, in aqueous solution to afford a series of positively charged [M(8)L(4)](8+) or [M(4)L(2)](4+) multimetallomacrocycles with remarkable water solubility. Their structures were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis and in the cases of 1·8BF(4)(-) ([(phen)(8)Pd(8)L(1)(4)](BF(4))(8)), and 3·4BF(4)(-) ([(phen)(4)Pd(4)L(2)(2)](BF(4))(4)) by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complexes 3-8 are square-type hybrid metallomacrocycles, while complexes 1 and 2 exhibit folding cyclic structures. Interestingly, in single-crystal structures of 1·8BF(4)(-) and 3·4BF(4)(-), BF(4)(-) anions are trapped in the dipalladium clips through anion-π interaction. The luminescence properties and interaction toward anions of these metallomacrocycles were discussed.     

Self-assembly of nanosize coordination cages on si(100) surfaces

Bottom-up fabrication of 3D organic nanostructures on Si(100) surfaces has been achieved by a two-step procedure. Tetradentate cavitand 1 was grafted on the Si surface together with 1-octene (Oct) as a spatial spectator by photochemical hydrosilylation. Ligand exchange between grafted cavitand 1 and self-assembled homocage 2, derived from cavitand 5 bearing a fluorescence marker, led to the formation of coordination cages on Si(100). Formation, quantification, and distribution of the nanoscale molecular containers on a silicon surface was assessed by using three complementary analytical techniques (AFM, XPS, and fluorescence) and validated by control experiments on cavitand-free silicon surfaces. Interestingly, the fluorescence of pyrene at approximately 4 nm above the Si(100) surface can be clearly observed.     

Self-assembly of discrete M6L8 coordination cages based on a conformationally flexible tripodal phosphoric triamide ligand

Reactions of a tripodal ligand, N,N',N″-tris(3-pyridinyl)phosphoric triamide (TPPA), and a series of transition-metal ions result in the assembly of five discrete M(6)L(8) coordination cages [M(6)(TPPA)(8)(H(2)O)(12)](ClO(4))(12)·57H(2)O [M = Ni(2+) (1), Co(2+) (2), Zn(2+) (3), Cd(2+) (4)] and [Pd(6)(TPPA)(8)]Cl(12)·22H(2)O (5). X-ray structural analyses reveal that the cages have large internal cavities and flexible windows. The flexible ligand TPPA adopts the syn conformation in cages 1-4, but it transforms to the anti conformation in cage 5. Because of the conformational transformation, the sizes of the windows and the volume of the internal cavity of cage 5 are increased. (1)H NMR and electrospray mass spectrometric studies show that cage 5 maintains its structural integrity in solution. Additionally, compounds 3 and 4 exhibit strong blue fluorescent emissions, which are 1 order of magnitude higher than that of the free ligand.     

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.     

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.     

Nanospheric [M20(OH)12(maleate)12(Me2NH)12]4+ clusters (M = Co, Ni) with O(h) symmetry

Nanospheric hydroxo-bridged clusters of [M(20)(OH)(12)(maleate)(12)(Me(2)NH)(12)](BF(4))(3)(OH)·nH(2)O (M = Co (1), Ni (2)) with O(h) symmetry were afforded under hydrothermal condition with Co(BF(4))(2)·6H(2)O/Ni(BF(4))(2)·6H(2)O and fumaric acid in a DMF/EtOH mixed solvent. They are characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and X-ray diffraction. X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses show that these two complexes are isostructural containing an ideally cubic M(8) core in that each two M atoms are doubly bridged at the edges by one OH(-) and one maleate, while these OH(-) and maleate groups are coordinated further by exterior identical 12 M atoms which construct a perfect M(12) icosahedron to encapsulate the cubic core. To our knowledge, such large clusters with O(h) symmetry are seldom. The variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies reveal that these two isostructures exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Self-assembly of a neutral luminescent Au(12) cluster with D(2) symmetry

The preparation and characterization of luminescent neutral Au(12) shuttle-like complexes is reported which shows a cyclic framework consisting of twelve gold(i) ions arranged in a closed ring via non-covalent Au(i)Au(i) interactions to give a chiral D(2) symmetrical structure.     

Enantiomerically Pure [M6L12] or [M12L24] Polyhedra from Flexible Bis(Pyridine) Ligands

Coordination‐driven self‐assembly is one of the most powerful strategies to prepare nanometer‐sized discrete (supra)molecular assemblies. Herein, we report on the use of two constitutionally isomeric BINOL‐based bis(pyridine) ligands for this purpose. Upon coordination to Pd^II ions these self‐assemble into enantiomerically pure endo‐ and exo‐functionalized hexa‐ and dodecanuclear metallosupramolecular spheres with a chiral skeleton depending on the substitution pattern of the BINOL core. These aggregates were characterized by NMR, MS, DLS, TEM, and EELS as well as ECD. Furthermore, experimental ECD data could be compared to those obtained from theoretical simulations using a simplified Tamm–Dancoff approximation to time‐dependent DFT to rationalize the extraordinary high molar circular dichroisms. Despite the rotational freedom around the central aryl–aryl bond of these ligands, the self‐assembly process happens completely selective in a “narcissistic” self‐recognition manner.     

Large M4L4 (M = Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Ti(IV)) tetrahedral coordination cages: an extension of symmetry-based design

As an extension to a rational design for the formation of self-assembled coordination cages, the syntheses for very large M4L4 tetrahedra based on a hexadentate 3-fold symmetric ligand (1,3,5-tris(4'-(2' ',3' '-dihydroxybenzamido)phenyl)benzene (H6L2)) are described. Four tetrahedral M4L2(4) assemblies (M = Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Ti(IV)), with cavity sizes of around 450 A3, have been characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and high-resolution electrospray mass spectrometry. Differences in chiral resolution and dynamic behavior of host-guest interactions with previously reported tetrahedral M4L(N)6 and M4L1(4) architectures are highlighted for the ligands 1,5-bis(2',3'-dihydroxybenzamido)naphthalene (H4L(N)) and 1,3,5-tris(2',3'-dihydroxybenzamido)benzene (H6L1). An even larger 3-fold symmetric ligand, 1,3,5-tris(4'-(2' ',3' '-dihydroxybenzamido)-1',1' '-biphenyl)benzene (H6L3) has been prepared but, due to increased flexibility and deviation from the intended 3-fold symmetry, does not undergo self-assembly to form the M4L3(4) structure.     

Frontier orbitals of trivalent cages: (3,6) cages and (4,6) cages

A qualitative molecular-orbital treatment and group-theoretical analysis reveals the nature of the frontier orbitals of (3,6) and (4,6) polyhedral cages, consisting of a hexagonal network with triangular and square defects, respectively. Leapfrog (3,6) cages have two nonbonding filled orbitals. Leapfrog (4,6) cages have a high HOMO-LUMO gap, while nonleapfrog (4,6) cages with octahedral symmetry have a very small HOMO-LUMO gap. The symmetry of the frontier orbitals is determined.     

Self-assembly and anion encapsulation properties of cavitand-based coordination cages

Two novel classes of cavitand-based coordination cages 7a--j and 8a--d have been synthesized via self-assembly procedures. The main factors controlling cage self-assembly (CSA) have been identified in (i) a P--M--P angle close to 90 degrees between the chelating ligand and the metal precursor, (ii) Pd and Pt as metal centers, (iii) a weakly coordinated counterion, and (iv) preorganization of the tetradentate cavitand ligand. Calorimetric measurements and dynamic (1)H and (19)F NMR experiments indicated that CSA is entropy driven. The temperature range of the equilibrium cage-oligomers is determined by the level of preorganization of the cavitand component. The crystal structure of cage 7d revealed the presence of a single triflate anion encapsulated. Guest competition experiments revealed that the encapsulation preference of cages 7b,d follows the order BF(4)(-) > CF(3)SO(3)(-) > PF(6)(-) at 300 K. ES-MS experiments coupled to molecular modeling provided a rationale for the observed encapsulation selectivities. The basic selectivity pattern, which follows the solvation enthalpy of the guests, is altered by size and shape of the cavity, allowing the entrance of an ancillary solvent molecule only in the case of BF(4)(-).     

An M12(L1)12(L2)12 Cantellated Tetrahedron: A Case Study on Mixed‐Ligand Self‐Assembly

In the self‐assembly of Pd^II ions and two different, but similarly shaped, ligands ( 1 and 2 ), neither random mixing nor self‐sorting of the two ligands into two unmixed structures was observed. Instead a mixed, yet sorted, Pd₁₂( 1 )₁₂( 2 )₁₂ cantellated tetrahedron (and its pseudoisomer) was selectively formed, thus revealing a fine example of intramolecular self‐sorting. A case study showed that a homothetic ratio of >2 is necessary to observe cantellated tetrahedra.     

Self-assembly of triptycene-based cylindrical macrotricyclic host with dibenzylammonium ions: construction of dendritic [3]pseudorotaxanes

[reaction: see text] It was found that a cylindrical macrotricyclic host containing two dibenzo[24]crown-8 cavities could self-assemble with two dibenzylammonium salts to form a stable 1:2 complex in solution and in the solid state, in which multiple hydrogen-bonding and pi-pi stacking interactions between the host and the guest played an important role. Furthermore, a series of dendritic pseudorotaxanes were constructed and structurally studied.     

Heterobimetallic Clusters of Copper(I) with Trithiotungstate and Trithiomolybdate. Synthesis and Characterization of the Octanuclear Clusters [Et(4)N](4)[M(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)] (M = Mo, W) and the Dodecanuclear Clusters [M(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)(CuTMEN)(4)] (M = Mo, W; TMEN = N,N,N',N'-Tetramethylethylenediamine)

Synthetic methods for [Et(4)N](4)[W(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)] (1), [Et(4)N](4)[Mo(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)] (2), [W(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)(CuTMEN)(4)] (3), and [Mo(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)(CuTMEN)(4)] (4) are described. [Et(4)N](2)[MS(4)], [Et(4)N](2)[MS(2)O(2)], Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O, and KBH(4) (or Et(4)NBH(4)) were used as starting materials for the synthesis of 1 and 2. Compounds 3 and 4 were produced by reaction of [Et(4)N](2)[WOS(3)], Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O, and TMEN and by reaction of [Me(4)N](2)[MO(2)O(2)S(8)], Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O, and TMEN, respectively. Crystal structures of compounds 1-4 were determined. Compounds 1 and 2 crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 14.264(5) ?, b = 32.833(8) ?, c = 14.480(3) ?, beta = 118.66(2) degrees, V = 5950.8(5) ?(3), and Z = 4 for 1 and a = 14.288(5) ?, b = 32.937(10) ?, c = 14.490(3) ?, beta = 118.75(2) degrees, V = 5978.4(7) ?(3), and Z = 4 for 2. Compounds 3 and 4 crystallized in the trigonal space group P3(2)21 with a = 13.836(6) ?, c = 29.81(1) ?, V = 4942(4) ?(3), and Z = 3 for 3 and a = 13.756(9) ?, c = 29.80(2) ?, V = 4885(6) ?(3), and Z = 3 for 4. The cluster cores have approximate C(2v) symmetry. The anions of 1 and 2 may be viewed as consisting of two butterfly-type [CuMOS(3)Cu] fragments bridged by two [MOS(3)](2-) groups. Eight metal atoms in the anions are arranged in an approximate square configuration, with a Cu(4)M(4)S(12) ring structure. Compounds 3 and 4 can be considered to consist of one [M(4)Cu(4)S(12)O(4)](4-) (the anions of 1 and 2) unit capped by Cu(TMEN)(+) groups on each M atom; the Cu(TMEN)(+) groups extend alternately up and down around the Cu(4)M(4) square. The electronic spectra of the compounds are dominated by the internal transitions of the [MOS(3)](2-) moiety. (95)Mo NMR spectral data are investigated and compared with those of other compounds.