Pd2L2 metallacycles as molecular containers for small molecules

M(2)L(2) type metallacyclic complexes, Pd(2)(L1)(2)Cl(4)]·1.5CH(2)Cl(2) (1), Pd(2)(L1)(2)Cl(4)]·2CHCl(3) (2), Pd(2)(L2)(2)Cl(4)]·2CH(2)Cl(2)·2CH(3)CN (3), Pd(2)(L2)(2)Cl(4)]·2CHCl(3)·2CH(3)CN (4) and Pd(2)(L3)(2)Cl(4)]·CH(2)Cl(2)·2CH(3)CN (5), have been prepared from three semi-rigid benzimidazol or benzotriazol ligands, 1,4-bis(benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene (L1), 1,4-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene (L2) and 1,4-bis(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene (L3). All the complexes were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the phase purity was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) measurements. The solution structure of representative complex 1 was studied by (1)H NMR titration and ESI mass spectroscopy. The thermal stability and guest-exchange properties of 1, 3 and 4 were investigated, revealing that the Pd(2)L(2) metallacycles can act as a selective receptor for CH(2)Cl(2) or CHCl(3) guest molecules. The catalytic activity of 1 in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction was also studied and 1 could be recycled at least 5 times under heterogeneous conditions, indicative of a potential self-supported catalyst.