New coordination polymers with extended arm cyclotriguaiacyclene ligands: 1D chains, and interpenetrating or polycatenating 2D (4(2).6(2))(4.6(2))2 networks

A series of new 1D chain and 2D coordination polymers with cyclotriguaiacylene-type ligands are reported. A zig-zag 1D coordination chain is found in complex [Cd(2)(4ph4py)(NO(3))(3)(H(2)O)(2)(DMA)(2)]·(NO(3))·(DMA)(4), where 4ph4py = tris[4-(4-pyridyl)benzoyl]-cyclotriguaiacylene and DMA = dimethylacetamide, while complex [Zn(4ph4py)(2)(CF(3)COO)(H(2)O)]·(CF(3)COO)(NMP)(7), where NMP = N-methylpyrrolidone, has a doubly bridged coordination chain structure. Complexes [M(3ph3py)(NO(3))(2)]·(NMP)(4) where M = Co or Zn, 3ph3py = tris[3-(3-pyridyl)benzoyl]cyclotriguaiacylene, are isostructural and feature 1D ladder coordination chains. Complexes [Cd(2)(4ph4py)(2)(NO(3))(4)(NMP)]·(NMP)(9)(H(2)O)(4) and [Co(4ph4py)(H(2)O)(2)]·(NO(3))(2)·(DMF)(2), where DMF = dimethylformamide, both have (3,4)-connected 2D coordination polymers with a rare (4(2).6(2))(4.6(2))(2) topology. A 2D coordination polymer with this topology is also found in complex [Co(2)(3ph4py)(2)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(5)]·(NO(3))(3)·(DMF)(9) where 3ph4py = tris[3-(4-pyridyl)benzoyl]cyclotriguaiacylene. All 2D coordination polymer complexes are interpenetrating or polycatenating. [Co(2)(3ph4py)(2)(NO(3))(H(2)O)(5)](3+)polymers form a 2D→3D polycatenation showing self-complementary "hand-shake" interactions between the host-type ligands.     

Improved Acid Resistance of a Metal–Organic Cage Enables Cargo Release and Exchange between Hosts

The use of di(2‐pyridyl)ketone in subcomponent self‐assembly is introduced. When combined with a flexible triamine and zinc bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, this ketone formed a new Zn₄L₄ tetrahedron 1 bearing twelve uncoordinated pyridyl units around its metal‐ion vertices. The acid stability of 1 was found to be greater than that of the analogous tetrahedron 2 built from 2‐formylpyridine. Intriguingly, the peripheral presence of additional pyridine rings in 1 resulted in distinct guest binding behavior from that of 2 , affecting guest scope as well as binding affinities. The different stabilities and guest affinities of capsules 1 and 2 enabled the design of systems whereby different cargoes could be moved between cages using acid and base as chemical stimuli.     

Palladium‐Templated Subcomponent Self‐Assembly of Macrocycles,Catenanes, and Rotaxanes

The reaction of 2,6‐diformylpyridine with diverse amines and Pd^II ions gave rise to a variety of metallosupramolecular species, in which the Pd^II ion is observed to template a tridentate bis(imino)pyridine ligand. These species included a mononuclear complex as well as [2+2] and [3+3] macrocycles. The addition of pyridine‐containing macrocyclic capping ligands allows for topological complexity to arise, thereby enabling the straightforward preparation of structures that include a [2]catenane, a [2]rotaxane, and a doubly threaded [3]rotaxane.     

Copper coordination polymers from cavitand ligands: hierarchical spaces from cage and capsule motifs,and other topologies

The cyclotriveratrylene-type ligands (±)-tris(iso-nicotinoyl)cyclotriguaiacylene L1 (±)-tris(4-pyridylmethyl)cyclotriguaiacylene L2 and (±)-tris{4-(4-pyridyl)benzyl}cyclotriguaiacylene L3 all feature 4-pyridyl donor groups and all form coordination polymers with Cu^I and/or Cu^II cations that show a remarkable range of framework topologies and structures. Complex [Cu^I ₄Cu^II _1.5(L1)₃(CN)₆]·CN·n(DMF) 1 features a novel 3,4-connected framework of cyano-linked hexagonal metallo-cages. In complexes [Cu₃(L2)₄(H₂O)₃]·6(OTf)·n(DMSO) 2 and [Cu₂(L3)₂Br₂(H₂O)(DMSO)]·2Br·n(DMSO) 3 capsule-like metallo-cryptophane motifs are formed which linked through their metal vertices into a hexagonal 2D network of (4³.12³)(4².12²) topology or a coordination chain. Complex [Cu₂(L1)₂(OTf)₂(NMP)₂(H₂O)₂]·2(OTf)·2NMP 4 has an interpenetrating 2D 3,4-connected framework of (4.6².8)(6².8)(4.6².8²) topology with tubular channels. Complex [Cu(L1)(NCMe)]·BF₄·2(CH₃CN)·H₂O 5 features a 2D network of 6³ topology while the Cu^II analogue [Cu₂(L1)₂(NMP)(H₂O)]·4BF₄·12NMP·1.5H₂O 6 has an interpenetrating (10,3)-b type structure and complex [Cu₂(L2)₂Br₃(DMSO)]·Br·n(DMSO) 7 has a 2D network of 4.8² topology. Strategies for formation of coordination polymers with hierarchical spaces emerge in this work and complex 2 is shown to absorb fullerene-C₆₀ through soaking the crystals in a toluene solution.     

Selective Anion Extraction and Recovery Using a FeII4L4 Cage

Selective anion extraction is useful for the recovery and purification of valuable chemicals, and in the removal of pollutants from the environment. Here we report that Fe^II₄L₄ cage 1 is able to extract an equimolar amount of ReO₄^?, a high‐value anion and a nonradioactive surrogate of TcO₄^?, from water into nitromethane. Importantly, the extraction was efficiently performed even in the presence of 10 other common anions in water, highlighting the high selectivity of 1 for ReO₄^?. The extracted guest could be released into water as the cage disassembled in ethyl acetate, and then 1 could be recycled by switching the solvent to acetonitrile. The versatile solubility of the cage also enabled complete extraction of ReO₄^? (as the tetrabutylammonium salt) from an organic phase into water by using the sulfate salt of 1 as the extractant.     

Redox-adaptable copper hosts. Pyridazine-linked cryptands accommodate copper in a range of redox States

A series of structurally characterized copper complexes of two pyridazine-spaced cryptands in redox states + (I,I), (II,I), (II), (II,II) are reported. The hexaimine cryptand L(I) [formed by the 2 + 3 condensation of 3,6-diformylpyridazine with tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren)] is able to accommodate two non-stereochemically demanding copper(I) ions, resulting in [Cu(I)(2)L(I)](BF(4))(2) 1, or one stereochemically demanding copper(II) ion, resulting in [Cu(II)L(I)()](BF(4))(2) 3. Complex 3 crystallizes in two forms, 3a and 3b, with differing copper(II) ion coordination geometries. Addition of copper(I) to the monometallic complex 3 results in the mixed-valence complex [Cu(I)Cu(II)L(I)](X)(3) (X = PF(6)(-), 2a; X = BF(4)(-), 2b) which is well stabilized within this cryptand as indicated by electrochemical studies (K(com) = 2.1 x 10(11)). The structurally characterized, octaamine cryptand L(A), prepared by sodium borohydride reduction of L(I), is more flexible than L(I) and can accommodate two stereochemically demanding copper(II) ions, generating the dicopper(II) cryptate [Cu(II)(2)L(A)](BF(4))(4) 4. Electrochemical studies indicate that L(A) stabilizes the copper(II) oxidation state more effectively than L(I); no copper redox state lower than II,II has been isolated in the solid state using this ligand.     

Capture of Singlet Oxygen Modulates Host-Guest Behavior of Coordination Cages

The anthracene panels of two tetrahedral M^II₄L₆ cages, where M^II=Co^II or Fe^II, were found to react with photogenerated singlet oxygen (¹O₂) in a hetero-Diels–Alder reaction. ESI-MS analysis showed the cobalt(II) cages to undergo complete transformation of all anthracene panels into endoperoxides, whereas the iron(II) congeners underwent incomplete conversion. The reaction was found to be partially reversible in the case of the 1-Fe^II cage. The dioxygen-cage cycloadducts were found to bind a set of guest molecules more weakly than the parent cages, with affinity dropping by more than two orders of magnitude in some cases. The light-driven cycloaddition reaction between cage and ¹O₂ thus served as a stimulus for guest release and reuptake.     

A Tris(3-pyridyl)stannane as a Building Block for Heterobimetallic Coordination Polymers and Supramolecular Cages

The systematic assembly of supramolecular arrangements is a persistent challenge in modern coordination chemistry, especially where further aspects of complexity are concerned, as in the case of large molecular mixed-metal arrangements. One targeted approach to such heterometallic complexes is to engineer metal-based donor ligands of the correct geometry to build 3D arrangements upon coordination to other metals. This simple idea has, however, only rarely been applied to main group metal-based ligand systems. Here, we show that the new, bench-stable tris(3-pyridyl)stannane ligand PhSn(3-Py)₃ (3-Py=3-pyridyl) provides simple access to a range of heterometallic Sn^IV/transition metal complexes, and that the presence of weakly coordinating counter anions can be used to build discrete molecular arrangements involving anion encapsulation. This work therefore provides a building strategy in this area, which parallels that of supramolecular transition metal chemistry.