A self-assembling metallosupramolecular cage based on cavitand-terpyridine subunits

Metal-directed self-assembly of a terpyridyl-functionalized cavitand yields a large hexameric coordination cage.     

Anion Control in the Self-Assembly of a Cage Coordination Complex

An anion is encapsulated in the center of the new cage compound [Ni₆(atu)₈X]X₃ (X=Cl—for the structure see picture—or Br; Hatu=amidinothiourea). A combination of Lewis acid–base and hydrogen-bonding interactions cause the square-planar [Ni(Hatu)₂]²⁺ units, after deprotonation, to assemble to form this compound. A remarkable feature is the anion dependence of the cage formation; nitrate, acetate, and perchlorate are unsuitable as templates.     

Anion‐aided Dynamic One‐pot Self‐assembly of Rectangular Metallacycles

The tetracopper(I) complex [{Cu₂(μ‐dppm)₂}₂(μ‐1,4‐O₂CC₆H₄ (CO₂ )₂)](BF₄ )₂ ( 1 (BF₄ )₂) and 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane (bpa) can establish a dynamic equilibrium in CH₂Cl₂ . From the equilibrium mixture containing 1 (BF₄ )₂ and bpa with the molar ratio 1 (BF₄ )₂/bpa of 1:1, a supramolecular compound [{Cu₂(μ‐dppm)₂}₂(μ‐1,4‐C₆H₄ (CO₂ )₂)(μ‐bpa)]₂(BF₄ )₄ ( 2 (BF₄ )₄) was obtained as single crystals. The crystal structure was determined by X‐ray crystallography to reveal presence of one anion inside a cationic rectangular metallacycle { 2 ⊂ BF₄ }³⁺. Both structural evidence and DFT ‐calculated results indicate that the F atoms of the anion exert weak electrostatic attraction with hydrogen atoms of the bound bpa as the framework of the cationic metallacycle. The attractive interactions apparently play an important role in stabilizing some dynamically self‐assembled precursors so as to form the final anion‐included metallacycle. Without the electrostatic help from the anion, the self‐assembly of the empty metallacycle may be hindered by a rather large endothermic free energy. The favorable electrostatic stabilization is present not only for a anion but also for other anions such as , , and even when the flexible bpa is replaced by rigid 4,4′‐bipyridine (bpy). Based on the DFT results, the metallacycle 2 (BF₄ )₄ can be easily prepared in a one‐pot reaction of [Cu(MeCN )₄](BF₄ ) with three ligands.     

A Potassium Complex of a Fluorine-Containing Macrocyclic Cage Compound: Interactions between Fluorine Atoms and Metal Ions

A new donor , the C−F unit, can be added to the field of host–guest chemistry. The interaction between fluorine atoms and a potassium ion was proven with the fluorine-containing cage compound 1 as a host. The six fluorine atoms of K⁺⊂ 1 are coordinated to K⁺ in a distorted octahedral fashion.     

Searching for new host compounds: synthesis and characterization of novel crown ether-functionalized dendrimers

Novel lipophilic dendrimers as host compounds, that is, 7-15, containing crown ether moieties with different sizes as the core, surrounded by first, second or third generation poly(aromatic ether) wedges, were synthesized by the use of bis(bromomethyl)-substituted crown ethers and Fréchet-type poly(benzyl ether) dendrons as building blocks. The compounds were fully characterized.     

Linking Bridged Tetracopper Complexes with Neutral Dipyridyl Compounds to Coordination Polymers and Discrete Metalacages

The bridged tetracopper(I) complex [{Cu₂(μ‐dppm)₂}₂(μ‐(1,3‐O₂CC₆H₄ (CO₂ )₂)](BF₄ )₂ ( 2 (BF₄ )₂) was prepared. This complex and the neutral dipyridyl compounds (NN ; NN = 4,4′‐bipyridine (bpy), 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane (bpa), 4,4′‐trimethylenedipyridine (tmp)) can form dynamic equilibria in CH₂Cl₂ . From the equilibrium mixtures containing 2 (BF₄ )₂ and NN with 2 (BF₄ )₂/NN = 1:1, different supramolecular compounds were obtained as single crystals, and their structure were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The flexibility of NN is found to be important in determining the outcome of the reactions with a rigid bpy, leading to the formation of the coordination polymer [{Cu₂(μ‐dppm)₂}₂(μ‐1,3‐C₆H₄ (CO₂ )₂)(μ‐bpy)] _n (BF₄ )_2n ( 3 (BF₄ )_2n ), whereas with flexible bpa and tmp direct the formation of the metalacages [{Cu₂(μ‐dppm)₂}₂(μ‐1,3‐C₆H₄ (CO₂ )₂)(μ‐NN )](BF₄ )₂ (NN = bpa, 4 (BF₄ )₂; tmp, 5 (BF₄ )₂), respectively, as supported by density functional theory (DFT ) calculation results.     

Organizational Forms of Matter: An Inorganic Super Fullerene and Keplerate Based on Molybdenum Oxide

Plato and Kepler would have been pleased . Despite the large number of atoms present the cluster anion 1 resembles an icosahedral-type structure. This represents definitively an unprecedented event in chemistry! The structure is made up of 12 {Mo₁₁} fragments such that the fivefold symmetry axes are retained in the resulting spherical object. As an inscribed icosahedron can be recognized in the spherical shell of 1 (see picture), similarities with Kepler's famous shell model of the cosmos can be seen.     

Allosteric binding of amino alcohols and diamines by dimeric zinc biladienone

A zinc complex of biladienone forms a dimer in toluene and dichloromethane. Binding of two molecules of amino alcohols and diamines to the dimer occurs cooperatively, with the first binding constant being two orders or three orders of magnitude smaller than the second binding constant. Simple amines such as butylamine did not show such cooperative binding. We suggest the mechanism of cooperative binding, where the amino or hydroxyl group in amino alcohols or diamines prevents the dimer dissociation to result in the less tight binding for the first guest, while the binding of the second ligand caused dimer dissociation to release strain in the intermediate complex.     

Deltaarenes; novel macrocyclic molecules that are readily available from 1,4-benzoquinone and benzene dithiols

New types of macrocyclic compounds, deltaarenes, are prepared. The compounds were readily synthesized in three steps from an arenedithiol and benzoquinone, and the yields of the macrocyclization reaction reached up to 40% under high dilution conditions. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that the macrocycle has a relatively rigid trimeric structure with a unique triangular hole, the size of which was approximately 11?Å along each side. NMR data suggests that the ring has a C3-symmetric structure. The X-ray analysis showed that the hole is large enough to capture one molecule of chlorobenzene. Use of a variety of dithiols allowed the synthesis of different types of deltaarene derivatives. MO calculations showed that the hole size depends on the dithiol unit. Deprotection of the twelve methoxyl groups was easily achieved by treatment with BBr₃ and yielded the free-OH deltaarene derivative.     

Exploiting Incommensurate Symmetry Numbers: Rational Design and Assembly of M2M3′L6 Supramolecular Clusters with C3h Symmetry

Mixed-metal mesocates [M₂Pd₃Br₆L₆]⁴⁻ (M=Ti^IV, Sn^IV; L=4-diphenylphosphanyl-catecholate) have been synthesized, in which the two incommensurate symmetry elements generated by the different metal ions are linked by a rigid, bifunctional ligand to generate a C_3h-symmetrical cluster (see picture).     

A Permanent Mesoporous Organic Cage with an Exceptionally High Surface Area

Recently, porous organic cage crystals have become a real alternative to extended framework materials with high specific surface areas in the desolvated state. Although major progress in this area has been made, the resulting porous compounds are restricted to the microporous regime, owing to the relatively small molecular sizes of the cages, or the collapse of larger structures upon desolvation. Herein, we present the synthesis of a shape‐persistent cage compound by the reversible formation of 24 boronic ester units of 12 triptycene tetraol molecules and 8 triboronic acid molecules. The cage compound bears a cavity of a minimum inner diameter of 2.6 nm and a maximum inner diameter of 3.1 nm, as determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. The porous molecular crystals could be activated for gas sorption by removing enclathrated solvent molecules, resulting in a mesoporous material with a very high specific surface area of 3758 m² g^?1 and a pore diameter of 2.3 nm, as measured by nitrogen gas sorption.     

A fluorescent guest used to determinate the effective content of CB[8] and to further detect methyl viologen

A fluorescent pyrene derivate,N-allyl-1-pyrenemethylammonium hydrochloride(APA+),was reported to form a stable host–guest complex with cucurbit[8]uril(CB[8]),and this property can be utilized to determinate the purity of CB[8]via emission titration.Moreover,the 1:1 complex of APA+and CB[8]can further bind methyl viologen(MV2+),which is the main ingredient of a widely used herbicide,providing a good method to detect MV2+,especially at low concentrations.     

A spectroscopic investigation of incompletely condensed polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS-mono-ol, POSS-diol and POSS-triol): Hydrogen-bonded interaction and host-guest complex

¹H NMR dilution experiment and FTIR were used to investigate the hydrogen bonded interaction in three different types of incompletely condensed silsesquioxanes (POSS-mono-ol, POSS-diol and POSS-triol). For POSS-triol, there existed a dynamic equilibrium between single molecule and hydrogen-bonded dimer, and the dimerization constants (K_dim) of POSS-triol in different solvents were determined by ¹H NMR dilution experiment. In addition, based on hydroxy group which acted as hydrogen bond donors, the possibility of three POSS silanols as anion receptors to form host-guest complexes was also explored in this paper.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Intercluster Compounds Consisting of Various Gold Clusters and Differently Charged Keggin Anions

The crystal structures of five intercluster compounds consisting of gold clusters and Keggin anions have been determined by single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction: [Au₉(PPh₃)₈][PMo₁₂O₄₀] (P4/n, Z = 2, a = 24.0195(13), c = 13.6818(10) Å), [Au₉(PPh₃)₈][HSiMo₁₂O₄₀] (P4/n, Z = 2, a = 24.270(3), c = 13.752(2) Å), [Au₉(PPh₃)₈][H₃CoW₁₂O₄₀] (P4/n, Z = 2, a = 24.4776(16), c = 13.7759(13) Å), [Au₈(PPh₃)₈]₂[SiMo₁₂O₄₀] (Pbca, Z = 4, a = 36.269(4), b = 24.488(3), c = 38.612(4) Å) and (nBu₄N)[Au₉(Ptol₃)₈][SiMo₁₂O₄₀] (Cc, Z = 4, a = 24.832(5), b = 24.955(5), c = 40.096(8) Å, β = 106.744(3)°). In these compounds, the charges of the building blocks were varied. Altering the charge on the Keggin anion in combination with the [Au₉(PPh₃)₈]³⁺ cluster gave rise to isostructural compounds as the charge is compensated by protonation of the polyoxometalate anion. Varying the charge or the ligand type of the gold cluster led to compounds with a completely different packing principle.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New M‐Triazole Complexes (M = Co,Cu, Zn)

Three new complexes with the ligand 3,5‐diamino‐1,2,4‐triazole (Hdatrz), [Co₃(μ₂‐Hdatrz)₆(H₂O)₆]·(NO₃)₈·4H₂O ( 1 ), [Cu₃(μ₂‐Hdatrz)₄(μ₂‐Cl)₂(H₂O)₂Cl₂]·Cl₂·4H₂O·2C₂H₅OH ( 2 ) and {[Zn₂(μ₂‐SO₄) (μ₃‐datrz)₂]·2H₂O}_n ( 3 ) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 has a linear trinuclear mixed‐valence cobalt structure with six neutral triazole ligands in the N(1), N(2)‐bridging mode. The central cobalt atom, Co(1), is coordinated to six nitrogen atoms (octahedral) whereas the terminal cobalt atom, Co(2), is coordinated to an N₃O₃ moiety (octahedral). In complex 1 , the uudd cyclic water clusters, nitrate anions and the trimeric cations are linked to a supramolecular structure. Complex 2 features a linear trinuclear copper(II) core, with four N(1), N(2)‐bridging triazole ligands and two chlorido bridges. The central copper atom is coordinated to an N₄Cl₂ moiety (octahedral) whereas the terminal copper is coordinated to an N₂Cl₂O moiety (square‐pyramidal). In complex 2 , tetrahedral hydrogen bonding interactions play an important role to form a supramolecular network. Complex 3 exhibits a polymeric structure, with N(1), N(2), N(4)‐bridging triazolate ligands and sulfate bridges, in which zinc is coordinated to an N₃O moiety (tetrahedral). In complex 3 , water molecules and sulfate anions construct the sulfate‐water supramolecular chain with hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the complexes were investigated by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric measurements.     

Covalent Organic Frameworks and Cage Compounds: Design and Applications of Polymeric and Discrete Organic Scaffolds

Porous organic materials are an emerging class of functional nanostructures with unprecedented properties. Dynamic covalent assembly of small organic building blocks under thermodynamic control is utilized for the intriguingly simple formation of complex molecular architectures in one‐pot procedures. In this Review, we aim to analyze the basic design principles that govern the formation of either covalent organic frameworks as crystalline porous polymers or covalent organic cage compounds as shape‐persistent molecular objects. Common synthetic procedures and characterization techniques will be discussed as well as more advanced strategies such as postsynthetic modification or self‐sorting. When appropriate, comparisons are drawn between polymeric frameworks and discrete organic cages in terms of their underlying properties. Furthermore, we highlight the potential of these materials for applications ranging from gas storage to catalysis and organic electronics.     

Titanium-Oxo Clusters with Bi- and Tridentate Organic Ligands: Gradual Evolution of the Structures from Small to Big

Homometallic titanium oxo clusters are one of the most important groups of metal oxo clusters, with more than 300 examples characterized by X-ray structure analyses. Most of them are uncharged and are obtained by partial hydrolysis and condensation of titanium alkoxo derivatives. The cluster cores, ranging from 3 to >50 titanium atoms, are stabilized by organic ligands. Apart from residual OR groups, carboxylato and phosphonato ligands are most frequent. The article critically reviews and categorizes the known structures and works out basic construction principles by comparing the different cluster types.     

Hybrid Silsesquioxane/Benzoate Cu7-Complexes: Synthesis,Unique Cage Structure,and Catalytic Activity

A series of phenylsilsesquioxane-benzoate heptacopper complexes 1–3 were synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Two parallel routes of toluene spontaneous oxidation (into benzyl alcohol and benzoate) assisted the formation of the cagelike structure 1. A unique multi-ligation of copper ions (from (i) silsesquioxane, (ii) benzoate, (iii) benzyl alcohol, (iv) pyridine, (v) dimethyl-formamide and (vi) water ligands) was found in 1. Directed self-assembly using benzoic acid as a reactant afforded complexes 2–3 with the same main structural features as for 1, namely heptanuclear core coordinated by (i) two distorted pentameric cyclic silsesquioxane and (ii) four benzoate ligands, but featuring other solvate surroundings. Complex 3 was evaluated as a catalyst for the oxidation of alkanes to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols to ketones with hydrogen peroxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, respectively, at 50 °C in acetonitrile. The maximum yield of cyclohexane oxidation products as high as 32% was attained. The oxidation reaction results in a mixture of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide, cyclohexanol, and cyclohexanone. Upon the addition of triphenylphosphine, the cyclohexyl hydroperoxide is completely converted to cyclohexanol. The specific regio- and chemoselectivity in the oxidation of n-heptane and methylcyclohexane, respectively, indicate the involvement of of hydroxyl radicals. Complex 3 exhibits a high activity in the oxidation of alcohols.     

Calix[4]Arene Cavitands: A Solid State Study on the Interactions of their Aromatic Cavity with Neutral Organic Guests Characterised by Acid CH3 or CH2 Groups

Abstract

To gain information on CH-π aromatic interactions involved in the formation of host-guest adducts, the geometrical parameters which define the solid state structures of the complexes of calix[4]arenes in the cone conformation with guests having acid CH₃ or CH₂ groups have been studied. Most of the data have been obtained from the CH₃CN and CH₂Cl₂ calix[4]arene complexes retrieved from the literature. To understand the effect of the acidity on these parameters, p-cyclohexylcalix[4]arene-biscrown-3 ? CH₃CN, p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene ? CH₃CN, p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene ? CH₃NO₂, 1,3-dipropoxy-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene ? ClCH₂CN and 1,3-dipropoxy-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene ? CH₂(CN)₂ complexes were prepared, crystallised and investigated in the solid state. CH₃X guests are bound preferentially by hosts having a C₄ symmetry. The interaction is directional, but it is independent from the basicity of the host and acidity of the guest, indicating that classic hydrogen bond do not play a major role. On the contrary CH₂XY guests find the best matching with hosts having a C_2v symmetry, interacting specifically with two diametrical aromatic rings. These interactions are directional and show a correlation between the acidity of the guest and the CH-π aromatic distance, thus supporting a stronger contribution of “classic” hydrogen bond in these latter complexes. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that CH-π aromatic interactions derive from the superimposition of different types of intermolecular forces, whose contribution depends on several factors as the nature of the interacting partners.     

Shape‐Controlled Synthesis and Self‐Sorting of Covalent Organic Cage Compounds

The directional bonding approach is a powerful tool to rationally control both shape and stoichiometry of three‐dimensional objects built from rigid building blocks under dynamic covalent conditions. Co‐condensation of catechol‐functionalized tribenzotriquinacene derivatives which have 90° angles between the reactive sites and diboronic acids with bite angles of 60°, 120°, and 180°, led to the efficient formation of, respectively, bipyramidal, tetrahedral, or cubic covalent organic cage compounds in a predictable manner. Investigations on the self‐sorting of ternary mixtures containing two competitive boronic acids revealed either narcissistic or social self‐sorting depending on the stability of the segregated cages relative to feasible three‐component assemblies.