Dicarboxylate-bridged ruthenium complexes as building blocks for molecular nanostructures.

Ruthenium complexes with bridging dicarboxylate ligands were combined with 1,2-di-4-pyridylethylene (dpe), 2,4,6-tri-4-pyridyltriazine (4-tpt), or 2,4,6-tri-3-pyridyltriazine (3-tpt) to give a tetranuclear rectangle or hexanuclear coordination cages. The cages display a trigonal-prismatic geometry, as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The 4-tpt-based cages are able to encapsulate polyaromatic molecules such as pyrene, triphenylene, or coronene, whereas the 3-tpt-based cages were found to be incompetent hosts for these guests.

Allosteric effects in a ditopic ligand containing bipyridine and tetra-aza-crown donor units.

Artificial allosterism: A ditopic ligand, which contains both bipyridine and tetra-aza-crown binding sites, coordinates one Cu(II) through all four N-donors of the tetradentate aza-crown unit. Reaction at the bipyridine site with another Cu(II) allosterically changes the aza-crown from being a tetradentate to a tridentate N-donor unit, a change in coordination mode that causes the successive binding of two Cu(II) ions to proceed with severe negative cooperativity (see scheme).

The oxidative conversion of the N,S-bridged complexes [{RhLL'(µ-X)}2] to [(RhLL')3)(µ-X)2]+ (X = mt or taz): a comparison with the oxidation of N,N-bridged analogues.

The structures of [{RhLL'(µ-X)}(2)] [LL' = cod, (CO)(2), (CO)(PPh(3)) or {P(OPh)(3)}(2); X = mt or taz], prepared from [{RhLL'(µ-Cl)}(2)] and HX in the presence of NEt(3), depend on the auxiliary ligands LL'. The head-to-tail arrangement of the two N,S-bridges is accompanied by a rhodium-eclipsed conformation for the majority but the most hindered complex, [{Rh[P(OPh)(3)](2)(µ-taz)}(2)], uniquely adopts a sulfur-eclipsed structure. The least hindered complex, [{Rh(CO)(2)(µ-mt)}(2)], shows intermolecular stacking of mt rings in the solid state. The complexes [{RhLL'(µ-X)}(2)] are chemically oxidised to trinuclear cations, [(RhLL')(3)(µ-X)(2)](+), most probably via reaction of one molecule of the dimer, in the sulfur-eclipsed form, with the fragment [RhLL'](+) formed by oxidative cleavage of a second.

Connection of metallamacrocycles via dynamic covalent chemistry: a versatile method for the synthesis of molecular cages.

A modular approach for the synthesis of cage structures is described. Reactions of [(arene)RuCl(2)](2) [arene = p-cymene, 1,3,5-C(6)H(3)Me(3), 1,3,5-C(6)H(3)(i-Pr)(3)] with formyl-substituted 3-hydroxy-2-pyridone ligands provide trinuclear metallamacrocycles with pendant aldehyde groups. Subsequent condensation reactions with di- and triamines give molecular cages with 3, 6, or 12 Ru centers in a diastereoselective and chemoselective (self-sorting) fashion. Some of the cages can also be prepared in one-pot reactions by mixing [(arene)RuCl(2)](2) with the pyridone ligand and the amine in the presence of base. The cages were comprehensively analyzed by X-ray crystallography. The diameter of the largest dodecanuclear complex is ∼3 nm; the cavity sizes range from 290 to 740 Å(3). An amine exchange process with ethylenediamine allows the clean conversion of a dodecanuclear cage into a hexanuclear cage without disruption of the metallamacrocyclic structures.

Structures and dynamic behavior of large polyhedral coordination cages: an unusual cage-to-cage interconversion.

The bis-bidentate bridging ligand L {α,α'-bis[3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazol-1-yl]-1,4-dimethylbenzene}, which contains two chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine units connected to a 1,4-phenylene spacer via flexible methylene units, reacts with transition metal dications to form a range of polyhedral coordination cages based on a 2M:3 L ratio in which a metal ion occupies each vertex of a polyhedron, a bridging ligand lies along every edge, and all metal ions are octahedrally coordinated. Whereas the Ni(II) complex [Ni(8)L(12)](BF(4))(12)(SiF(6))(2) is an octanuclear cubic cage of a type we have seen before, the Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) complexes form new structural types. [Cu(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12) is an unusual example of a trigonal prismatic cage, and both Zn(II) and Cd(II) form unprecedented hexadecanuclear cages [M(16)L(24)]X(32)(X = ClO(4) or BF(4)) whose core is a skewed tetracapped truncated tetrahedron. Both Cu(6)L(9) and M(16)L(24) cages are based on a cyclic helical M(3)L(3) subunit that can be considered as a triangular "panel", with the cages being constructed by interconnection of these (homochiral) panels with additional bridging ligands in different ways. Whereas [Cu(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12) is stable in solution (by electrospray mass spectrometry, ES-MS) and is rapidly formed by combination of Cu(BF(4))(2) and L in the correct proportions in solution, the hexadecanuclear cage [Cd(16)L(24)](BF(4))(32) formed on crystallization slowly rearranges in solution over a period of several weeks to the trigonal prism [Cd(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12), which was unequivocally identified on the basis of its (1)H NMR spectrum. Similarly, combination of Cd(BF(4))(2) and L in a 2:3 ratio generates a mixture whose main component is the trigonal prism [Cd(6)L(9)](BF(4))(12). Thus the hexanuclear trigonal prism is the thermodynamic product arising from combination of Cd(II) and L in a 2:3 ratio in solution, and arises from both assembly of metal and ligand (minutes) and rearrangement of the Cd(16) cage (weeks); the large cage [Cd(16)L(24)](BF(4))(32) is present as a minor component of a mixture of species in solution but crystallizes preferentially.

Turn-off-and-on: chemosensing ensembles for sensing chloride in water by fluorescence spectroscopy.

The recognition and sensing of aqueous chloride by synthetic receptors is a challenging task. Herein we apply the chemosensing ensemble methodology to optically detect chloride in water at near physiological pH. Variants based on two closely related receptors have been explored. The sensors can be obtained in situ by mixing a rhodium complex, a bidentate N,N-chelate ligand, and a fluorescent dye in buffered aqueous solution. Upon mixing the sensor components, the rhodium complex binds to the N,N-chelate ligand to yield a metal-based receptor. This latter associates with the fluorophore to give a non-emissive ground-state complex. The chemosensing ensembles respond to chloride via a turn-on fluorescence signal and can be used for optical detection of chloride down to mid-micromolar concentrations.

A fluorescent sensor for pyrophosphate based on a Pd(II) complex.

A mixture of the Pd(II) complex [Pd(NO(3))(2)(bipy)] (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) and the fluorescent dye Methylcalcein blue (MCB) constitutes a chemosensing ensemble which can be used for the detection of pyrophosphate (PPi) by fluorescence spectroscopy. The sensor operates in buffered aqueous solution at neutral pH, and allows sensing PPi at low to mid micromolar concentrations with very good selectivity over other anions such as phosphate, acetate, nitrate, sulfate, chloride, and bicarbonate.

Sensing of peptide hormones with dynamic combinatorial libraries of metal-dye complexes: the advantage of time-resolved measurements.

A dynamic combinatorial library of metal-dye complexes was obtained by reacting aqueous solutions of the dyes Methyl Calcein Blue, Arsenazo I, and Xylenol Orange with CuCl(2) and NiCl(2). The mixture gave a characteristic UV-Vis response upon addition of the peptide hormones angiotensin I and angiotensin II. This allowed distinguishing pure samples of peptide hormones from mixtures. The discriminatory power of the sensor was enhanced when the several UV/Vis measurements were performed during the equilibration process of the library.

Understanding, controlling and programming cooperativity in self-assembled polynuclear complexes in solution.

Deviations from statistical binding, that is cooperativity, in self-assembled polynuclear complexes partly result from intermetallic interactions DeltaE(M,M), whose magnitudes in solution depend on a balance between electrostatic repulsion and solvation energies. These two factors have been reconciled in a simple point-charge model, which suggests severe and counter-intuitive deviations from predictions based solely on the Coulomb law when considering the variation of DeltaE(M,M) with metallic charge and intermetallic separation in linear polynuclear helicates. To demonstrate this intriguing behaviour, the ten microscopic interactions that define the thermodynamic formation constants of some twenty-nine homometallic and heterometallic polynuclear triple-stranded helicates obtained from the coordination of the segmental ligands L1-L11 with Zn(2+) (a spherical d-block cation) and Lu(3+) (a spherical 4f-block cation), have been extracted by using the site binding model. As predicted, but in contrast with the simplistic coulombic approach, the apparent intramolecular intermetallic interactions in solution are found to be i) more repulsive at long distance (DeltaE(1-4)(Lu,Lu)>DeltaE(1-2)(Lu,Lu)), ii) of larger magnitude when Zn2+ replaces Lu3+ (DeltaE(1-2)(Zn,Lu)>DeltaE(1-2)(Lu,Lu) and iii) attractive between two triply charged cations held at some specific distance (DeltaE(1-3)(Lu,Lu)<0). The consequences of these trends are discussed for the design of polynuclear complexes in solution.

Isomeric pyridyl-thiazole donor units for metal ion recognition in bi- and tri-metallic helicates.

Linking two isomeric tridentate N-chelates together produces a hetero-ditopic ligand capable of selectively binding Hg2+ and Zn2+ ions in a double-stranded helicate.

Self-assembly of the first discrete 3d-4f-4f triple-stranded helicate.

The connection of an additional bidentate chelating unit at the extremity of a segmental bis-tridentate ligand in L5 provides an unprecedented sequence of binding sites for the self-assembly of heterometallic 3d-4f triple-stranded helicates. Thorough thermodynamic and structural investigations in acetonitrile show the formation of intricate mixtures of complexes when a single type of metal (3d or 4f) is reacted with L5. However, the situation is greatly simplified when Zn(II) (3d-block) and Lu(III) (4f-block) are simultaneously coordinated to L5, thus leading to only two identified species: the target C(3)-symmetrical trinuclear triple-stranded d-f-f helicate HHH-[ZnLu(2)(L5)(3)](8+) and a tetranuclear double-stranded complex [Zn(2)Lu(2)(L5)(2)](10+). Interestingly, the removal of Zn(II) from the former triple-helical complex has only a minor effect on the coordination of Lu(III), and translational autodiffusion coefficients show a simple reduction of the length of the molecular rigid cylinder from L = 2.7 nm in HHH-[ZnLu(2)(L5)(3)](8+) to L = 2.3 nm in HHH-[Lu(2)(L5)(3)](6+). Finally, the complete thermodynamic picture provides five novel stability macroconstants containing information about short-range (ca. 9 A) and long-range (ca. 18 A) intramolecular intermetallic d-f and f-f interactions.

Poly(1,1-bis(dialkylamino)propan-1,3-diyl)s; conformationally-controlled oligomers bearing electroactive groups.

The design of polymers with repeating [C(NR2)2CH2CH2] units which may simultaneously provide conformational control and contain repeating electroactive centres is discussed; (NR2)2 groups would be ideally provided by ortho-phenylenediamine derivatives, with 1,8-diaminonaphthalenes as alternatives. Oligomers containing 1,8-bis(methylamino)naphthalenes, up to the hexamer, were obtained by condensation of oligomers of CH3[COCH2CH2](n)COCH3 with 1,8-bis(methylamino)naphthalene, but attempts to prepare related oligomers from 1,2-bis(alkylamino)benzenes were unsuccessful, as only terminal ketone groups could be converted to aminals. Evidence for a strong preference for all-anti conformations of the main chain in the naphthalenediamine oligomers is provided by ring current effects on 1H NMR shifts, and by X-ray structures, which also provide evidence of intercalation in the solid state. Electrochemical studies of these oligomers show irreversible oxidation of oligomers in solution, but oxidation of longer oligomers leads to the deposition of a reddish-pink insoluble material which shows two reversible oxidation waves. Possible interpretation of these results is discussed.

Towards inert and preorganized d-block-containing receptors for trivalent lanthanides: the synthesis and characterization of triple-helical monometallic Os(II) and bimetallic Os(II)-Ln(III) complexes.

The mononuclear Os(II) complex [Os()(3)](PF(6))(2) ( = 5-methyl(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine) is an obvious candidate for the design of an inert d-block-based tripodal receptor capable of binding and photosensitizing trivalent lanthanides (Ln(III)). It has thus been prepared and its two enantiomeric meridional (Delta-mer and Lambda-mer) and facial (rac-fac) isomers have been separated by ion-exchange chromatography. The optical isomers have been characterized by CD spectroscopy and assignments of absolute configuration confirmed by an X-ray crystallographic study of Lambda-mer-[Os()(3)](PF(6))(2).1.5MeCN (monoclinic, P2(1), Z = 4). Comparison of the latter structure with that of racemic fac-[Os()(3)](PF(6))(2) (monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 8) and [Os(bipy)(3)](PF(6))(2) (where bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) shows minimal structural variations, but differences are observed in the photophysical and electrochemical properties of the respective compounds. Luminescence emissions from Os(II) complexes of are typically lower in energy, with shorter lifetimes and lower quantum yields than their bipy analogues, whilst metal-centred oxidation processes are more facile due to the enhanced pi-donor ability of . The key relationships between these parameters are discussed. Finally, though challenged by (i) the low reactivity of many osmium precursors and (ii) the irreversible formation of competing side products, the synthesis and purification of the heterobimetallic triple-stranded helicate HHH-[OsLu()(3)](CF(3)SO(3))(5) has been realised, in which is a segmental ligand containing the same bidentate unit as that found in further connected to a tridentate binding site adapted for complexing Ln(III). Its solid-state structure has been established by X-ray crystallography (triclinic, P1, Z = 2).

Ligand reprogramming in dinuclear helicate complexes: a consequence of allosteric or electrostatic effects?

The ditopic ligand 6,6'-bis(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-3,3'-([18]crown-6)-2,2'-bipyridine (L(1)) contains both a potentially tetradentate pyridyl-thiazole (py-tz) N-donor chain and an additional "external" crown ether binding site which spans the central 2,2'-bipyridine unit. In polar solvents (MeCN, MeNO(2)) this ligand forms complexes with Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II) and Cu(I) ions via coordination of the N donors to the metal ion. Reaction with both Hg(II) and Cu(I) ions results in the self-assembly of dinuclear double-stranded helicate complexes. The ligands are partitioned by rotation about the central py--py bond, such that each can coordinate to both metals as a bis-bidentate donor ligand. With Zn(II) ions a single-stranded mononuclear species is formed in which one ligand coordinates the metal ion in a planar tetradentate fashion. Reaction with Cd(II) ions gives rise to an equilibrium between both the dinuclear double-stranded helicate and the mononuclear species. These complexes can further coordinate s-block metal cations via the remote crown ether O-donor domains; a consequence of which are some remarkable changes in the binding modes of the N-donor domains. Reaction of the Hg(II)- or Cd(II)-containing helicate with either Ba(2+) or Sr(2+) ions effectively reprogrammes the ligand to form only the single-stranded heterobinuclear complexes [MM'(L(1))](4+) (M=Hg(II), Cd(II); M'=Ba(2+), Sr(2+)), where the transition and s-block cations reside in the N- and O-donor sites, respectively. In contrast, the same ions have only a minor structural impact on the Zn(II) species, which already exists as a single-stranded mononuclear complex. Similar reactions with the Cd(II) system result in a shift in equilibrium towards the single-stranded species, the extent of which depends on the size and charge of the s-block cation in question. Reaction of the dicopper(I) double-stranded helicate with Ba(2+) shows that the dinuclear structure still remains intact but the pitch length is significantly increased.

Localization and delocalization in a mixed-valence dicopper helicate.

The coordination chemistry of the tetradentate pyridyl-thiazole (py-tz) N-donor ligand 6,6'-bis(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)-2,2'-bipyridine (L1) has been investigated. Reaction of L1 with equimolar copper(II) ions results in the formation of the single-stranded mononuclear complex [Cu(L1)(ClO4)2] (1), whereas reaction with copper(I) ions results in the double-stranded dinuclear helicate [Cu2(L1)2][PF6]2 (2). Both complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (as well as 1H NMR spectroscopy for diamagnetic 2). Complex 2 is redox-active and, upon one-electron oxidation, forms the stable tricationic mixed-valence helicate [Cu2(L1)2]3+ (3). This species can also be prepared in situ by combining [Cu(MeCN)4][BF4], [Cu(H2O)6][BF4]2, and L1 in a 1:1:2 ratio in nitromethane. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 3 provides structural evidence for the presence of an internuclear Cu-Cu bond, with an even distribution of spin density across the two Cu centers. Room-temperature UV-vis spectroscopy is consistent with this finding; however, frozen-glass EPR spectroscopic investigations suggest solvatochromic behavior at 110 K, with the [Cu2]3+ core varying from localized to delocalized depending on the solvent polarity.

Stereospecific construction of substituted piperidines. Synthesis of (-)-paroxetine and (+)-laccarin.

Short and efficient enantioselective syntheses of (-)-paroxetine and (+)-laccarin are described based on the highly stereospecific cleavage of C(3)-substituted 1,3-cyclic sulfamidates.

Complexes of Ag(I), Hg(I) and Hg(II) with multidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine ligands: From mononuclear complexes to coordination polymers via helicates, a mesocate, a cage and a catenate.

The coordination chemistry of a series of di- and tri-nucleating ligands with Ag(I), Hg(I) and Hg(II) has been investigated. Most of the ligands contain two or three N,N'-bidentate chelating pyrazolyl-pyridine units pendant from a central aromatic spacer; one contains three binding sites (2 + 3 + 2-dentate) in a linear sequence. A series of thirteen complexes has been structurally characterised displaying a wide range of structural types. Bis-bidentate bridging ligands react with Ag(I) to give complexes in which Ag(I) is four-coordinate from two bidentate donors, but the complexes can take the form of one-dimensional coordination polymers, or dinuclear complexes (mesocate or helicate). A tris-bidentate triangular ligand forms a complicated two-dimensional coordination network with Ag(I) in which Ag...Ag contacts, as well as metal-ligand coordination bonds, play a significant role. Three dinuclear Hg(I) complexes were isolated which contain an {Hg2}2+ metal-metal bonded core bound to a single bis-bidentate ligand which can span both metal ions. Also characterised were a series of Hg(II) complexes comprising a simple mononuclear four-coordinate Hg(II) complex, a tetrahedral Hg(II)4 cage which incorporates a counter-ion in its central cavity, a trinuclear double helicate, and a trinuclear catenated structure in which two long ligands have spontaneously formed interlocked metallomacrocyclic rings thanks to cyclometallation of two of the Hg(II) centres.

Coordination chemistry of tetradentate N-donor ligands containing two pyrazolyl-pyridine units separated by a 1,8-naphthyl spacer: dodecanuclear and tetranuclear coordination cages and cyclic helicates.

The tetradentate ligand L(naph) contains two N-donor bidentate pyrazolyl-pyridine units connected to a 1,8-naphthyl core via methylene spacers; L45 and L56 are chiral ligands with a structure similar to that of L(naph) but bearing pinene groups fused to either C4 and C5 or C5 and C6 of the terminal pyridyl rings. The complexes [Cu(L(naph))](OTf) and [Ag(L(naph))](BF4) have unremarkable mononuclear structures, with Cu(I) being four-coordinate and Ag(I) being two-coordinate with two additional weak interactions (i.e., "2 + 2" coordinate). In contrast, [Cu4(L(naph))4][BF4]4 is a cyclic tetranuclear helicate with a tetrafluoroborate anion in the central cavity, formed by an anion-templating effect; electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) spectra show the presence of other cyclic oligomers in solution. The chiral ligands show comparable behavior, with [Cu(L45)](BF4) and [Ag(L45)](ClO4) having similar mononuclear crystal structures and with the ligands being tetradentate chelates. In contrast, [Ag4(L56)4](BF4)4 is a cyclic tetranuclear helicate in which both diastereomers of the complex are present in the crystal; the two diastereomers have similar gross geometries but are significantly different in detail. Despite their different crystal structures, [Ag(L45)](ClO4) and [Ag4(L56)4](BF4)4 behave similarly in solution according to ESMS studies, with a range of cyclic oligomers (up to Ag9L9) forming. With transition-metal dications Co(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II), L(naph) generates a series of unusual dodecanuclear coordination cages [M12(L(naph))18]X24 (X- = ClO4- or BF4-) in which the 12 metal ions occupy the vertices of a truncated tetrahedron and a bridging ligand spans each of the 18 edges. The central cavity of each cage can accommodate four counterions, and each cage molecule is chiral, with all 12 metal trischelates being homochiral; the crystals are racemic. Extensive aromatic stacking between ligands around the periphery of the cages appears to be a significant factor in their assembly. The chiral analogue L45 forms the simpler tetranuclear, tetrahedral coordination cage [Zn4(L45)6](ClO4)(8), with one anion in the central cavity; the steric bulk of the pinene chiral auxiliaries prevents the formation of a dodecanuclear cage, although trace amounts of [Zn12(L45)18](ClO4)24 can be detected in solution by ESMS. Formation of [Zn4(L45)6](ClO4)8 is diastereoselective, with the chirality of the pinene groups controlling the chirality of the tetranuclear cage.