Post-Metalation Modification of a Macrocyclic Dicobalt(III) Metallohost by Site-Selective Ligand Exchange for Guest Recognition Control.

We propose post-metalation modification as a useful strategy to control the guest recognition behavior of a metal-containing macrocyclic host. This is based on the ligand exchange of the axial ligands of a cobalt(III) dinuclear macrocyclic host, [LCo2 X4 ]2+ (X=axial amine ligand). Four piperidine ligands in [LCo2 (pip)4 ]2+ (pip=piperidine) were site-selectively replaced with primary amines. The competitive experiments revealed that the order of the affinity toward the cobalt centers in [LCo2 X4 ]2+ is primary amine > secondary amine > tertiary amine and that the piperidine-coordinating complex, [LCo2 (pip)4 ]2+ , was reasonably reactive among the isolable complexes. Indeed, two piperidine ligands at the diagonal positions in [LCo2 (pip)4 ]2+ were site-selectively replaced with pyridine or acetate ion. The replacement of piperidine with acetate ion significantly enhanced the recognition ability towards Na+ .

Switching of Recognition First and Reaction First Mechanisms in Host-Guest Binding Associated with Chemical Reactions.

Host-guest binding sometimes triggers the subsequent chemical reactions of the host framework as well as changes in the physical properties. Since the host-guest binding generally occurs very quickly, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate the mechanism from the alternative one in which the guest binding occurs after the reaction. However, it is important to differentiate the two mechanisms when we develop new molecules based on time-dependent functions. Thus, we propose two distinct mechanisms, recognition first and reaction first, in a slowly reacting host system. We designed and synthesized a new cobalt(III) metallohost, [LCo2(pip)4](OTf)2 (pip = piperidine), which can take up a guest cation into its 18-crown-6-like cavity causing concomitant exchange of the axial piperidine ligands under solvolytic conditions. We investigated the mechanism to elucidate whether the guest recognition or ligand exchange occurs first. When Na+ (5-10 equiv) was present, the guest recognition occurred by the recognition first mechanism; i.e., Na+ was initially taken up into the cavity, then the axial piperidine ligands were replaced with methoxo ligands. On the other hand, when 1 equiv of M+ (= K+, Rb+) was present, the guest recognition occurred by the reaction first mechanism; i.e., M+ was taken up after one of the piperidine ligands was replaced with a methoxo ligand. Therefore, the recognition pathway can be switched by changing the guest cations.