Being Positive is Not Everything - Experimental and Computational Studies on the Selectivity of a Self-Assembled, Multiple Redox-State Receptor that Binds Anions with up to Picomolar Affinities.

The interaction of the self-assembled trinuclear ruthenium bowl 13+ , that displays three other accessible oxidation states, with oxo-anions is investigated. Using a combination of NMR and electrochemical experimental data, estimates of the binding affinities of 14+ , 15+ , and 16+ for both halide and oxo-anions were derived. This analysis revealed that, across the range of oxidation states of the host, both high anion binding affinities (>109  M-1 for specific guests bound to 16+ ) and high selectivities (a range of >107  M-1 ) were observed. As the crystal structure of binding of the hexafluorophosphate anion revealed that the host has two potential binding sites (named the α and ß pockets), the host-guest properties of both putative binding sites of the bowl, in all of its four oxidation states, were investigated through detailed quantum-based computational studies. These studies revealed that, due to the interplay of ion-ion interactions, charge-assisted hydrogen-bonding and anion-π interactions, binding to the α pocket is generally preferred, except for the case of the relatively large and lipophilic hexafluorophosphate anionic guest and the host in the highest oxidation states, where the ß pocket becomes relatively favourable. This analysis confirms that host-guest interactions involving structurally complex supramolecular architectures are driven by a combination of non-covalent interactions and, even in the case of charged binding pairs, simple ion-ion interactions alone cannot accurately define these recognition processes.

Modulating the electron-transfer properties of a mixed-valence system through host-guest chemistry.

Metal directed self-assembly has become a much-studied route towards complex molecular architectures. Although studies on mixed valence, MV, systems accessible through this approach are almost non-existent, the potential applications of such systems are very exciting as MV states provide the basis of a number of molecular-scale devices, including single electron wires and switches. Furthermore, while many novel hosts for guest ions and molecules have been developed through metal directed self-assembly, as these products tend to be kinetically labile, very few electrochemical studies have been reported. Herein, we report that the interplay between the binding properties and redox activity of a self-assembled trinuclear RuII macrocycle leads to an hitherto unreported phenomenon, in which access to specific MV states can be gated by host-guest chemistry. Thus, this system is the first in which MV states and the extent of electron delocalisation are switched by an ion without any change in electrochemical potential.

Correction: Modulating the electron-transfer properties of a mixed-valence system through host-guest chemistry.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C4SC02799J.].