Highly fluorescent M2L4 molecular capsules with anthracene shells

M(2)L(4) molecular capsules self-assembled from M(II) ions (where M = Zn, Ni, and Pd) and bent bidentate ligands constructed from anthracene fluorophores. The Ni(II) and Zn(II) capsules exhibited weak to strong blue emission unlike traditional Pd(II) cages and capsules.     

Calix[4]arene Schiff bases—potential ligands for fluorescent studies

A series of novel double-armed calix[4]arene derivatives incorporating imine substituents were synthesised from the Schiff-base reaction of 25,27-bis[2-[(1-formyl-2-phenyl)oxy]ethyl]-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene (1) with the appropriate amine or hydrazone. All compounds were characterised by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques, and in three cases, by X-ray crystallographic studies. In the case of compound 2, inclusion compounds were synthesised with both m-xylene and dimethylformamide and their X-ray structures revealed these inclusion sites—between the pendant arms and in the upper cavity, respectively. In all cases, the pendant arms are bent away from each rather than adopting a face-to-face conformation.     

Self-assembly of heteroleptic [2 x 2] and [2 x 3] nanogrids

Using the HETPHEN concept a general and quantitative approach to the formation of heteroleptic nanogrids is illustrated.     

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 Novel Hetero[3]rotaxane,[2]Rotaxanes and [2]Catenane

One linear template 13 and one cyclophane template 15, both incorporating two electron rich 1,4-dialkoxybenzene units and one diamide unit, have been synthesized. By utilizing donor-acceptor interaction and/or intermolecular hydrogen bonding assembling principles, one novel hetero[3]rotaxane 22·4Cl, possessing one neutral and one tetracationic ring components, has been synthesized from 13, through neutral [2]rotaxane 21 as intermediate. With 15 as template, tetracationic [2]catenane 23·4PF6 was assembled by using donor-acceptor interaction, but no neutral [2]rotaxane could be obtained under the typical conditions of hydrogen bonding assembling principle. The interlocked supramolecular compounds have been characterized and their spectral properties are investigated.     

Self-Assembly of an [M8L24]16+ Intertwined Cube and a Giant [M12L16]24+ Orthobicupola

Through coordination-driven self-assembly, aesthetically captivating structures can be formed by tuning the length or flexibility of various components. The self-assembly of an elongated rigid terphenyl-based tetra-pyridyl ligand ( L1 ) with a cis-Pd(II) acceptor produces an [M₁₂ L1 ₆]²⁴⁺ triangular orthobicupola structure ( 1 ). When flexibility is introduced into the ligand by the incorporation of a -CH₂- group between the dipyridylamine and terphenyl rings in the ligand ( L2 ), anunique [M₈ L2 ₄]¹⁶⁺ water-soluble ‘intertwined cubic structure’ ( 2 ) results. The inherent flexibility of ligand L2 might be the key factor behind the formation of the thermodynamically stable and ′intertwined cubic structure′ in this scenario. This research showcases the ability to design and fabricate novel, topologically distinctive molecular structures by a straightforward and efficient approach.     

多酸导向的间苯二酚杯[4]芳烃[Co8]配位笼的组装及电化学性质

基于多金属氧酸盐（POM）的超分子配位笼的设计和组装引起了广泛的研究兴趣,但在合成过程中仍然存在挑战。本文中,我们报道了一例基于POM-杯芳烃的大型[Co₈]配位笼[Co₈（MTR4A）₆Cl₈]（α-SiW₁₂O₄₀）₂·30DMF·74EtOH （cage-1）,该配位笼由6个碗状间苯二酚杯[4]芳烃（MTR4A）分子、8个Co(Ⅱ)阳离子、2个α-SiW₁₂O₄₀^4-抗衡阴离子和8个Cl^-阴离子组装而成。值得注意的是,α-SiW₁₂O₄₀^4-阴离子通过氢键夹在层与层之间,形成一个三维超分子结构。此外,作为锂离子电池的负极材料,cage-1表现出良好的锂离子存储能力。cage-1也能够实现对亚硝酸盐（NO₂^-）的还原和抗坏血酸（AA）的氧化,是一种具有高活性的双功能催化剂。     

Functional supramolecular devices: [M4IIL4]8+ [2 x 2]-grid-type complexes as multilevel molecular electronic species

The [M(4)(II)L(4)](8+) [2 x 2]-grid-type complexes 1-8 present a set of features of particular interest for potential applications. All complexes exhibit multiple reduction levels at low reduction potentials paired with rather high stability. The modulation of the reduction potentials is possible by introduction of appropriate substituents on the ligands. The Co(II)(4) complexes 1-5 present a remarkable regularity in the disposition of the reduction levels, indicating the ability of the Co(II) sites to transmit electronic interactions between reduced ligands. In general, all investigated molecular systems 1-8 show characteristics typical for multilevel supramolecular electronic devices.     

多酸导向的间苯二酚杯[4]芳烃[Co8]配位笼的组装及电化学性质

基于多金属氧酸盐(POM)的超分子配位笼的设计和组装引起了广泛的研究兴趣,但在合成过程中仍然存在挑战。本文中,我们报道了一例基于POM-杯芳烃的大型[Co₈]配位笼[Co₈(MTR4A)₆Cl₈](α-SiW₁₂O₄₀)₂·30DMF·74EtOH (cage-1),该配位笼由6个碗状间苯二酚杯[4]芳烃(MTR4A)分子、8个Co(Ⅱ)阳离子、2个α-SiW₁₂O₄₀^4-抗衡阴离子和8个Cl^-阴离子组装而成。值得注意的是,α-SiW₁₂O₄₀^4-阴离子通过氢键夹在层与层之间,形成一个三维超分子结构。此外,作为锂离子电池的负极材料,cage-1表现出良好的锂离子存储能力。cage-1也能够实现对亚硝酸盐(NO₂^-)的还原和抗坏血酸(AA)的氧化,是一种具有高活性的双功能催化剂。     

Ring-opening polymerisation of silver-diphosphine [M2L3] coordination cages to give [M2L3]infinity coordination polymers

[M2L3] coordination cages and linear [M2L3]infinity polymers of the rigid, bridging diphosphines bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene (dppa) and trans-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppet) with silver(I) salts have been investigated in the solution and solid states. Unlike flexible diphosphines, 1:1 dppa/AgX mixtures do not selectively form discrete [Ag2(diphos)2(X)2] macrocycles; instead dynamic mixtures of one-, two- and three-coordinate complexes are formed. However, 3:2 dppa/AgX ratios (X = SbF6. BF4, O3SCF3 or NO3) do lead selectively to new [M2L3] triply bridged cage complexes [Ag2(dppa)3(X)2] 1a-d (X = SbF6 a, BF4 b, O3SCF3 c, NO3 d), which do not exhibit Ag-P bond dissociation at room temperature on the NMR time scale (121 MHz). Complexes la-d were characterised by X-ray crystallography and were found to have small internal cavities, helical conformations and multiple intramolecular aromatic interactions. The nucleophilicity of the anion subtly influences the cage shape: Increasing nucleophilicity from SbF6 (1a) through BF4 (1b) and O3SCF3 (1c) to NO3 (1d) increases the pyramidal distortion at the AgP3 centres, stretching the cage framework (with Ag...Ag distances increasing from 5.48 in 1a to 6.21 A in 1d) and giving thinner internal cavities. Crystal packing strongly affected the size of the helical twist angle, and no correlation between this parameter and the Ag-Ag distance was observed. When crystalline 1c was stored in its supernatant for 16 weeks, conversion occured to the isostoichiometric [M2L3]infinity coordination polymer [Ag(dppa)2Ag(dppa)(O3SCF3)2]infinity (1c'). X-ray crystallography revealed a structure with ten-membered Ag2(dppa)2 rings linked into infinite one-dimensional chains by a third dppa unit. The clear structural relationship between this polymer and the precursor cage 1c suggests a novel example of ring-opening polymerisation. With dppet, evidence for discrete [M2L3] cages was also found in solution, although 31P NMR spectroscopy suggested some Ag-P bond dissociation. On crystallisation, only the corresponding ring-opened polymeric structures [M2L3]infinity could be obtained. This may be because the greater steric bulk of dppet versus dppa destabilises the cage and favours the ring-opening polymerisation.     

八元瓜环与二(2-亚甲基-1,2,3,4-四氢异喹啉)的自组装模式

以用1,2,3,4-四氢喹啉和二溴乙烷合成的二(2-亚甲基-1,2,3,4-四氢异喹啉)的溴化氢酸盐为客体, 八元瓜环为主体, 利用1H NMR技术, 单晶X射线衍射方法以及理论计算等方法, 考察了两者的自组装模式. 1H NMR分析结果表明, 在溶液状态条件下, 不仅每一个八元瓜环分子同时与两个客体分子的芳环部分相互作用, 而且每一个客体分子两端的芳环部分同时与两个八元瓜环分子相互作用, 从而形成一维的自组装超分子链; 而在固体状态下, 每一个八元瓜环也可同时包结两个客体的芳环部分而形成三元的自组装结构, 但八元瓜环包结两个客体形成一独立的三元自组装结构. 利用晶体结构建立模型的计算结果说明, 模拟溶液状态比固体状态条件下的主客体包结更有利于体系能量的降低, 与主客体在溶液中1H NMR实验结果相符.     

手性杯[4]芳烃氨基醇的合成及自组装

用25,27-二(2-溴乙氧基)-26,28-二羟基-5,11,17,23-四叔丁基杯[4]芳烃与光学纯的(1S,2R)-(+)-2-氨基-1,2-二苯基乙醇合成了手性杯[4]芳烃氨基醇2. 2能在极性的甲醇中组装成二聚体,通过¹H NMR滴定测定其结合常数K_a为34.7 M^-1,并提出了自组装机理.     

Self-assembly of tetrahedral and trigonal antiprismatic clusters [Fe4(L4)4] and [Fe6(L5)6] on the basis of trigonal tris-bidentate chelators

In a one-pot reaction, the tetranuclear iron chelate complex [Fe4(L4)4] 6 was generated from benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid trichloride (4), bis-tert-butyl malonate (5a), methyllithium, and iron(II) dichloride under aerobic conditions. Alternatively, hexanuclear iron chelate complex [Fe(L5)6] 7 was formed starting from bis-para-tolyl malonate (5b) by employing identical reaction conditions to those applied for the synthesis of 6. The clusters 6 and 7 are present as racemic mixtures of homoconfigurational (delta,delta,delta,delta)/(lambda,lambda,lambda,lambda)-fac or (delta,delta,delta,delta,delta,delta)/(lambda,lambda,lambda,lambda,lambda,lambda)-fac stereoisomers. The structures of 6 and 7 were unequivocally resolved by single-crystal X-ray analyses. The all-iron(III) character of 6 and 7 was determined by M?ssbauer spectroscopy.     

M3L2 metallo-cryptophanes: [2]catenane and simple cages

Crystalline M(3)L(2) complexes with either single cage or triply interlocking [2]catenane chiral structures are formed the self-assembly of host-like ligands with transition metals.     

Coordination complexes with cis-TCNE radical anion ligands. models of M[TCNE]2 magnets

The synthesis and characterization of two manganese(II) complexes formally each featuring two cis-tetracyanoethylenide radical anionic ligands (TCNE*/-) are reported. In each case, tris(pyrazol-1-ylmethyl)amine serves as a capping ligand, blocking three facial coordination sites. Crystal structures show that the two TCNE anions in each molecule exhibit an intramolecular stacking interaction that forms what can be considered a coordinated (TCNE2)2- moiety. These molecules are presumed to be structural models of some of the local bonding in the family of amorphous, ferrimagnetic, M[TCNE]2.y(solvent) coordination polymer magnets. Magnetic measurements indicate that the (TCNE2)2- bridge is diamagnetic and not a good mediator of magnetic exchange, a result that might explain the observed lower ordering temperatures in some of the polymer magnets.     

1-D and 2-D homoleptic dicyanamide structures, [Ph4P]2[CoII[N(CN)2]4] and [Ph4P][M[N(CN)2]3] (M = Mn, Co)

The homoleptic complexes [Ph(4)P](2)[Co[N(CN)(2)](4)] and [Ph(4)P][M[N(CN)(2)](3)] [M = Co, Mn] have been structurally as well as magnetically characterized. The complexes containing [M[N(CN)(2)](4)](2-) form 1-D chains, which are bridged via a common dicyanamide ligand in [M[N(CN)(2)](3)](-) to form a 2-D structure. The five-atom [NCNCN](-) bridging ligands lead to weak magnetic coupling along a chain. The six [NCNCN](-) ligands lead to a (4)T(1g) ground state for Co(II) which has an unquenched spin-orbit coupling that is reflected in the magnetic properties. Long-range magnetic ordering was not observed in any of these materials.     

Indolo[3,2-b]carbazole-based thin-film transistors with high mobility and stability

Proper functionalization of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole led to a new class of high-performance organic semiconductors suitable for organic thin-film transistor (OTFT) applications. While 5,11-diaryl-substituted indolo[3,2-b]carbazoles without long alkyl side chains provided amorphous thin films upon vacuum deposition, those with sufficiently long alkyl side chains such as 5,11-bis(4-octylphenyl)indolo[3,2-b]carbazole self-organized readily into highly crystalline layered structures under similar conditions. OTFTs using channel semiconductors of this nature exhibited excellent field-effect properties, with mobility up to 0.12 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and current on/off ratio to 10(7). As this class of organic semiconductors has relatively low HOMO levels and large band gaps, they also displayed good environmental stability even with prolonged exposure to amber light, an appealing characteristic for OTFT applications.     

Reversible anion-templated self-assembly of [2+2] and [3+3] metallomacrocycles containing a new dicopper(I) motif

A new dicopper(I) complex is reported that can be incorporated into extended architectures through multitopic carboxylate linkers; reversible carboxylate templation under pH control led to the formation of [2+2] and [3+3] metallomacrocycles.