Supramolecular coordination chemistry in aqueous solution: lanthanide ion-induced triple helix formation

The self-assembly of dinuclear triple helical lanthanide ion complexes (helicates), in aqueous solution, is investigated utilizing laser-induced, lanthanide luminescence spectroscopy. A series of dinuclear lanthanide (III) helicates (Ln(III)) based on 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (dipicolinic acid, dpa) coordinating units was synthesized by linking two dpa moieties using the organic diamines (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane (chxn-R,R) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (dpm). Luminescence excitation spectroscopy of the Eu3+ 7F0-->5D0 transition shows the apparent cooperative formation of neutral triple helical complexes in aqueous solution, with a Eu2L3] stoichiometry. Eu3+ excitation peak wavelengths and excited-state lifetimes correspond to those of the Eu(dpa)3]3- model complex. CD studies of the Nd(III) helicate Nd2(dpa-chxn-R,R)3 reveal optical activity of the f-f transitions, indicating that the chiral linking group induces a stable chirality at the metal ion center. Molecular mechanics calculations using CHARMm suggest that the delta delta configuration at the Nd3+ ion centers is induced by the chxn-R,R linker. Stability constants were determined for both ligands with Eu3+, yielding identical results: log K = 31.6 +/- 0.2 (K in units of M-4). Metal-metal distances calculated from Eu3+-->Nd3+ energy-transfer experiments show that the complexes have metal-metal distances close to those calculated by molecular modeling. The fine structure in the Tb3+ emission bands is consistent with the approximate D3 symmetry as anticipated for helicates.