Towards building blocks for metallosupramolecular structures: non-symmetrically-functionalised ferrocenyl compounds

Abstract

Metallosupramolecular architectures formed from metal ions and bridging ligands are increasing in popularity due to their range of applications and ease of self-assembly. Many are able to readily change their shape and/or function in response to an external stimulus and have the ability to encapsulate guest molecules within their internal cavities. Ferrocenyl groups (Fc) have been incorporated previously within the bridging ligands of metallosupramolecular structures due to their ideal attributes brought about by the structural and rotational flexiblity of the two cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings coordinated to the Fe(II) centre. However, the majority of these Fc-based structures contain symmetrically substituted Cp rings. We report the synthesis and characterisation of non-symmetrically functionalised Fc-based ligands incorporating both N,N′ and NHC-donor groups chosen for their differing coordination properties. Both substituents were designed to coordinate to a single metal centre with the dissimilar coordination properties of each donor group facilitating stimulus-induced dissociation/association of one of the substituents as an opening/closing mechanism. Preliminary investigations into the coordination of these Fc-based ligands to a [Ru(η6-p-cymene)]2+ moiety indicated complexation through a mixture of either a bi- or tridentate fashion, as alluded by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed the Fc-based ligands adopt a syn conformation driven by H-bonding and π-interactions between the two Cp substituents, which facilitate coordination of both donor groups towards the metal centre.

Graphical abstract: Towards building blocks for metallosupramolecular structures: non-symmetrically-functionalised ferrocenyl compounds

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Jun 2024
Accepted
12 Aug 2024
First published
15 Aug 2024

Dalton Trans., 2024, Advance Article

Towards building blocks for metallosupramolecular structures: non-symmetrically-functionalised ferrocenyl compounds

W. D. J. Tremlett, J. D. Crowley, L. J. Wright and C. G. Hartinger, Dalton Trans., 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4DT01646G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements