Supramolecular squares of dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylate: combining carboxylate-exchange and metal-ligand coordination for self-assembly.

Square self-assemblies are obtained from dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylate complexes using an isonicotinate-type ligand to act as an equatorial ligand to one dirhodium unit and an axial ligand to another. It is shown that the supramolecular squares are formed selectively out of a number of possible compounds in the dynamic carboxylate exchange library.

Complexes of aryl-substituted porphyrins and naphthalenediimide (NDI): investigations by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy.

New donor-acceptor hybrids of Zn(II)-metallated 5,15-diaryl porphyrins have been designed and synthesised via the porphyrin interactions with an electron acceptor molecule, di-n-hexyl N-substituted 1,2,4,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (NDI). Binding interactions within these supramolecular complexes were investigated in the solid state by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and probed in solution by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The systematic modulation of the porphyrin π-density was achieved, for the first time as multiple methoxy and fluorine groups were introduced as substituents to the 5,15-diaryls of the porphyrin. For these, the variation of the porphyrin-NDI binding strengths determined by (1)H NMR titrations was shown, using the Swain's type dual parameter approach, to be closely linked with the peripheral substitution pattern of the diaryl porphyrins validated by crystallography. The new 1:1 donor-acceptor complexes formed display characteristic features of the aromatic-stacked systems, i.e. the parallel arrangement and short interplanar separation between the substituted porphyrin and NDI. Synthetic modification of electron-density on the porphyrin surface by introducing substituents at peripheral sites of functionalised porphyrins represent a general solution towards electronically tunable aromatic surfaces: an understanding of their solution and solid state behaviour will significantly improve the rational design of new functional donor-acceptor supramolecular materials with potential applications ranging from new energy materials to dye-sensitised solar cells, photovoltaics and future drug delivery devices.

Pentasubstituted ferrocene and dirhodium(II) tetracarboxylate as building blocks for discrete fullerene-like and extended supramolecular structures.

The synthesis of a penta(1-methylpyrazole)ferrocenyl phosphine oxide ligand (1) [Fe(C(5)(C(3)H(2)N(2)CH(3))(5))(C(5)H(4)PO(t-C(4)H(9))(2))] is reported together with its X-ray crystal structure. Its self-assembly behavior with a dirhodium(II) tetraoctanoate linker (2) [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)] was investigated for construction of fullerene-like assemblies of composition [(ligand)(12)(linker)(30)]. Reaction between 1 and 2 in acetonitrile resulted in the formation of a light purple precipitate (3). Evidence for the ligand-to-linker ratio of 1:2.5 expected for a fullerene-like structure [Fe(C(5)(C(3)H(2)N(2)CH(3))(5))(C(5)H(4)PO(t-C(4)H(9))(2))](12)[Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)](30) was obtained from (1)H NMR and elemental analysis. IR and Raman studies confirmed the diaxially bound coordination environment of the dirhodium linker by comparing the stretching frequencies of the carboxylate group and the rhodium-rhodium bond with those in model compound (5), [Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)](C(3)H(3)N(2)CH(3))(2), the bis-adduct of linker 2 with 1-methylpyrazole. X-ray powder diffraction and molecular modeling studies provide additional support for the formation of a spherical molecule topologically identical to fullerene with a diameter of approximately 38 Å and a molecular formula of [(1)(12)(2)(30)]. Dissolution of 3 in tetrahydrofuran (THF) followed by layering with acetonitrile afforded purple crystals of [(1)(2)(2)](∞) (6) [Fe(C(5)(C(3)H(2)N(2)CH(3))(5))(C(5)H(4)PO(t-C(4)H(9))(2))][Rh(2)(O(2)CC(7)H(15))(4)](2) with a two-dimensional polymeric structure determined by X-ray crystallography. The dirhodium linkers link ferrocenyl units by coordination to the pyrazoles but only four of the five pyrazole moieties of the pentapyrazole ligand are coordinated. The ligand-to-linker ratio of 1:2 in 6 was confirmed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, while results from IR and Raman are in agreement with the diaxially coordinated environment of the linker observed in the solid state.

New dioxo-molybdenum(VI) and -tungsten(VI) complexes with N-capped tripodal N2O2 tetradentate ligands: synthesis, structures and catalytic activities towards olefin epoxidation.

A series of N2O2 tripodal tetradentate ligands derived from di-/tetra-tert-butyl substituted 2-[bis(2-hydroxybenzyl)aminomethyl]X (X = pyridine and benzimidazole) (H2L(n) (n = 1-4)) and 8-[bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)]aminoquinoline (H2L5) were synthesised through a 4-step reaction scheme involving sequential formylation, reduction, bromination and alkylation. Treatment of H2L(n) (n = 1-5) with [WO2Cl2(dme)] (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) in the presence of triethylamine gave the corresponding cis-dioxotungsten(VI) complexes [WO2(L(n))] (n = 1-5). The corresponding molybdenum analogues [MoO2(L(n))] (n = 1-5) were also prepared from the reaction of [MoO2(acac)2] (acac = acetylacetonate) with H2L(n) (n = 1-3) or [MoO2Cl2(dme)] (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) with H2L(n) (n = 4 and 5). All these compounds were fully characterised by a wide range of spectroscopic methods. The molecular structures of [MoO2(L(n))] (n = 2, 4) and [WO2(L²)] were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The catalytic activities of [MO2(L(n))] (M = Mo, W; n = 1-4) towards epoxidation of styrene were also examined.

Synthesis of planar five-connected nodal ligands.

Synthetic routes to a penta(4-pyridyl)cyclopentadienyl ligand are explored. The most successful route uses a palladium-catalysed pentapyridation of di(tert-butyl)phosphinoferrocene by using a procedure developed by Hartwig. The same method allows the synthesis of cyclopentadiene ligands substituted with 4-benzaldehydes or 4-phenylthiols. The pyridine ligands are formally five-connected nodes that may be linked by linear coordination metals to give closed spherical complexes of composition [(metal)(30)(ligand)(12)] as shown by molecular modelling. Experiment shows that the ligand complexes copper(I) and silver(I) with the expected 1:2.5 stoichiometry, and the (1)H NMR spectrum of the resulting product shows the ligands to be equivalent. NMR diffusion and light-scattering measurements support the formation of a species with a hydrodynamic radius of the order of 15 A, in agreement with the modelling studies. The resulting complex would be topologically identical to the C(60) fullerene structure.

Synthesis, structures and catalytic properties of iron(III) complexes with asymmetric N-capped tripodal NO3 ligands and a pentadentate N2O3 ligand.

A new family of N-capped tripodal NO(3) proligands N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)-N-(2'-hydroxy-5'-R-phenyl)amine [H(3)(L(n))] [when R= Me, n = 1; R= (t)Bu, n = 2; R = Cl, n = 3] with different substituents in one of the aryl rings and N,N-bis(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butylbenzyl)-N-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)amine [H(3)(L(4))] were synthesised. The preparation of a new pentadentate proligand N-methyl-N,N',N'-tris(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butylbenzyl)ethane-1,2-diamine [H(3)(L(5))] with an N(2)O(3) donor set is also reported. Reaction of the proligands [H(3)(L(n))] (n = 1-4) with iron(III) chloride in the presence of base (triethylamine) and 1-methylimidazole (1-Meim) as co-ligand led to the formation of iron complexes of the type [Fe(L(n))(1-Meim)] (n = 1-4) (1-4) respectively, while treatment of the trilithium salt of [H(3)(L(5))] with iron(III) chloride afforded [Fe(L(5))] (5). All complexes were structurally characterised by X-ray crystallography. In complexes 1-4, the ligands form five- and six-membered chelate rings with the iron centres which have distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with an N(2)O(3) coordination environment. Complex 5 adopts a similar distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry also with N(2)O(3) coordination around the iron centre. The catalytic activity of these iron complexes towards epoxidation of styrene was examined.

Supramolecular assemblies of tripodal porphyrin hosts and C60.

The self-assembly of two tripodal porphyrin hosts in the presence of C(60), in the solid state, has been studied using synchrotron X-ray crystallography, and in solution by using (1)H NMR and fluorescence spectroscopies. The binding affinities, stoichiometries and geometries strongly depend on the size of the porphyrin host. Intramolecular and/or intermolecular porphyrin-fullerene interactions are observed in the co-crystallites and in each case, the trimer exhibits a "tweezers-like" structural motif. The solid-state structures of the trimer-fullerene co-crystallites reveal close fullerene-porphyrin and fullerene-fullerene contacts.

Aluminium(III) porphyrins as supramolecular building blocks.

Aluminium(III) porphyrin-carboxylate complexes, including a porphyrin pentamer, have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy, MALDI spectrometry and single crystal X-ray diffraction; these complexes can also be coordinated by a sixth, nitrogenous, ligand to the aluminium(III) centre.

Large-scale synthesis of alkyne-linked tripodal porphyrins via palladium-mediated coupling conditions.

Suzuki and Sonogashira couplings have been used in short and efficient sequences to give access to a new family of porphyrin trimers on a practical scale.

Diastereoselective amplification of an induced-fit receptor from a dynamic combinatorial library.

A high-affinity, induced-fit receptor for NMe4I was discovered using dynamic combinatorial chemistry. The addition of the guest to a dynamic combinatorial library made using a racemic mixture of chiral building blocks caused the strong and highly diastereoselective amplification of the receptor at the expense of other library components. The receptor and its mode of binding were characterized by NMR, ITC, and re-equilibration experiments, from which it was deduced that the receptor probably forms a folded four-stave barrel shape on binding of the guest.