scieee Science in your language
[en] (orig)

Nickel, copper, and zinc dinuclear helicates: how do bulky groups influence their architecture?

Author: Fernández-Fariña, Sandra; Maneiro Maneiro, Marcelino; Zaragoza Vérez, Guillermo; Seco Castro, José Manuel; Pedrido Castiñeiras, Rosa; González Noya, Ana María
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
Year: 2024
DOI: 10.1039/D4DT00279B
Source: https://minerva.usc.es/bitstreams/e6a6bb7c-1e9a-4386-8b59-b1a252ba8c3c/download
Dal on
T ansac ions
PAPER
Ci e his: Dal on T ans., 2024, 53,
5676
Recei ed 30 h Janua y 2024,
Accep ed 26 h Feb ua y 2024
DOI: 10.1039/d4d 00279b
sc.li/dal on
Nickel, coppe , and zinc dinuclea helica es: how
do bulky g oups influence hei a chi ec u e?†
Sand a Fe nández-Fa iña,
b
Ma celino Manei o,
b
Guille mo Za agoza,
c
José M. Seco,
d
Rosa Ped ido *
a
and Ana M. González-Noya *
a
The ligand design ac o s ha may influence he isola ion o me allosup amolecula helica es o meso-
ca es s ill dese e o be in es iga ed. In his sense, dinuclea nickel(II), coppe (II) and zinc(II) compounds
we e ob ained by elec ochemical syn hesis using a amily o fi e Schiffbase ligands, H
2
L
n
(n=1–5),
de i ed om bisphenylme hane and unc ionalized wi h bulky e -bu yl g oups in he pe iphe y and e hyl
g oups in he space . Six o he new complexes we e cha ac e ized by X- ay c ys allog aphy, hus demon-
s a ing ha he helica e s uc u e is p edominan in he solid s a e.
1
H NMR s udies we e pe o med o
he zinc complexes o analyze i he helical a chi ec u e o he me al complexes is e ained in solu ion.
These s udies e eal ha he p esence o a e -bu yl g oup in he o ho posi ion wi h espec o he OH
g oup is an essen ial ac o iden ified o he exis ence o a helica e con o ma ion in solu ion.
In oduc ion
The knowledge and unde s anding o how diffe en elemen s
and molecules combine h ough di e se sel -assembly p o-
cesses has led o he eme gence o a new ield called sup amo-
lecula chemis y.
1
Sup amolecula chemis y is ocused on
he design and s udy o hose sys ems o med by he spon-
aneous union o wo o mo e componen s h ough he in e -
ac ion o non-co alen bonds, o ins ance, hyd ogen bonds,
an de Waals o ces o π–πin e ac ions.
2–4
These in e ac ions
a e o en ound in na u e, such as in p o eins o DNA, and a e
essen ial o he de elopmen o hei main unc ions.
5
Me al–ligand in e ac ions a e also impo an ools wi hin
he sup amolecula chemis y ield. Depending on he o ien-
a ion o he pa en ligand, a wide a ie y o me allosup a-
molecula a chi ec u es showing in e es ing p ope ies and
applica ions
5–7
can be ob ained. Among hem, helica es and
mesoca es ha e eme ged as wo o he mos p omising unc-
ional me allosup amolecula a chi ec u es. Helica es a e
o med by one o mo e o ganic ligands helically w apped
a ound a se ies o me al ions de ining he axis o he
helix.
1,8–10
In con as , mesoca es a e o med by wo o mo e
ligands coo dina ed o me al ions wi hou c ossing each
o he .
11
Cu en ly, in con as o mesoca es, helica es ha e
been ex ensi ely s udied. In his sense, a ew e iews on heli-
ca es can be ound in he li e a u e.
10,12–15
Al hough he p epa-
a ion o helica e/mesoca e a chi ec u es is ela i ely simple, a
single con olled ou e o achie ing helica e e sus mesoca e has
no ye been es ablished. In ecen yea s, some o he ac o s
ha go e n he sel -assembly p ocesses o helica es and/o
mesoca es ha e been iden i ied: he coo dina i e p e e ences o
he me al ion, i s size
16
and ha d o so cha ac e is ic,
17
he
inne design o he o ganic ligand,
3,16,18–23
he empe a u e and
he p esence o anions.
24
I should be highligh ed ha unde -
s anding and con olling hese ac o s a e c ucial because heli-
ca e/mesoca e isome s may exhibi diffe en biological beha-
iou s.
25
Addi ionally, i has been ound ha he isola ion o
helicoidal o meso-helicoidal a chi ec u es can be con olled by
in a- and in e molecula in e ac ions ha occu be ween he
ligands.
26,27
In he li e a u e he e is a la ge a ie y o examples
o helicoidal a chi ec u es de i ed om ligands whose o -
ma ion is a ou ed by he exis ence o weak non-co alen π–πo
CH⋯πin e ac ions.
28–31
Along his line, i was ound ha he
exis ence o non-co alen CH⋯πin e ac ions a ou ed he heli-
ca e- ype s uc u e, con a y o expec a ions, since inc easing
he dis ance be ween he linking domains o he ligand should
a ou he mesoca e con o ma ion.
32
†Elec onic supplemen a y in o ma ion (ESI) a ailable: De ailed expe imen al
p ocedu es, compound cha ac e iza ion and syn he ic and c ys allog aphic da a;
Fig. S1–S14 and Tables S1–S8. CCDC 2321087–2321094. Fo ESI and c ys allo-
g aphic da a in CIF o o he elec onic o ma see DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.1039/
d4d 00279b
a
Depa amen o de Química Ino gánica, Facul ade de Química, Campus Vida,
Uni e sidade de San iago de Compos ela, San iago de Compos ela, Galicia, E-15782,
Spain. E-mail: [email p o ec ed], ana.gonza[email p o ec ed]
b
Depa amen o de Química Ino gánica, Facul ade de Ciencias, Campus Te a,
Uni e sidade de San iago de Compos ela, E-27002 Lugo, Spain
c
Unidade de Di acción de Raios X, Edi icio CACTUS, Uni e sidade de San iago de
Compos ela, Campus Su , San iago de Compos ela, Galicia, E-15782, Spain
d
Depa amen o de Química O gánica Facul ade de Química, Campus Vida,
Uni e sidade de San iago de Compos ela, San iago de Compos ela, Galicia, E-15782,
Spain
5676 |Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
View Jou nal
| View Issue
Wi h his in mind, we ha e decided o del e deepe in o he
ac o s ha in luence bo h he me al ions and he ligand
design o ob aining helical o meso-helical compounds. To
achie e ha , he coo dina ion chemis y o a amily o bisphe-
nylme hane-de i ed Schiffbase ligands (H
2
L
n
, Fig. 1) has been
explo ed owa ds nickel(II), coppe (II) and zinc(II) me al ions.
Schiffbase ligands
33
cons i u e one o he mos used
app oaches o syn hesizing helica es and mesoca es, as hey
equi e cheap o easy- o-p epa e s a ing ma e ials and sho
p epa a ion imes.
15,19,34
The long and semi- igid bisphenylme hane-de i ed space s
we e success ully employed by Hannon and co-wo ke s in he
pa en ligands o p epa e helica es and/o mesoca es.
28,35–37
In
ac , hese pionee ing wo ks es ablished ha unc ionaliza ion
wi h e hyl g oups in he a oma ic ings o he space could
o eseeably a ou he o ma ion o helicoidal species ins ead
o mesoca es.
37
In addi ion, diffe en bisphenylme hane-
de i ed ligands leading o helical- ype species a e ound in he
li e a u e.
31,38–40
Besides, he Schiffbase b anches in ou se ies H
2
L
n
(Fig. 1)
ha e been unc ionalized wi h e -bu yl g oups in he salicy-
loyl g oups (Fig. 1). We will modi y he posi ion o he e -
bu yl g oup wi h espec o he hyd oxy g oup (pa a o H
2
L
1
and H
2
L
4
, and o ho o H
2
L
2
and H
2
L
5
) and in oduce a
second e -bu yl g oup (H
2
L
3
) o de e mine whe he he posi-
ion and numbe o bulky g oups p e en and/o de e mine
he o ma ion o helica es o mesoca es. The p esence o he
alkyl g oups in he skele on o hese ligands could also
imp o e he solubili y o he species o med in apola sol en s
and hus a ou hei c ys alliza ion.
Expe imen al sec ion
Ma e ials and me hods
All sol en s, p- oluenesul onic acid, 4,4′-me hylenedianiline,
4,4′-me hylenebis(2,6-die hylaniline), 3- e -bu yl-2-hyd oxy-
benzaldehyde, 5- e -bu yl-2-hyd oxybenzaldehyde, 3,5-di- e -
bu yl-2-hyd oxybenzaldehyde and nickel, coppe and zinc
pla es we e pu chased om comme cial sou ces and we e used
wi hou pu i ica ion. Mel ing poin s we e de e mined using a
Buchi 560 ins umen . Elemen al analysis o compounds (C, N
and H) was ca ied ou on a Fisons EA model 1108 analyse .
In a ed spec a we e eco ded om 4000 o 500 cm
−1
on a
B uke FT-MIR spec opho ome e model VERTEX 70V in he
solid s a e using KB pelle s. Mass spec a we e ob ained using
B uke Mic o o spec ome e s o he ESI
+
echnique (elec o-
sp ay ioniza ion in posi i e mode) and B uke Au o lex o he
MALDI echnique (ma ix assis ed lase deso p ion/ioniza ion),
bo h coupled o a ime-o - ligh (TOF) analyse . Room- emp-
e a u e magne ic suscep ibili ies we e measu ed using a
digi al measu emen sys em MSB-MKI ib a ing magne -
ome e . Te akis(iso hiocyana o)cobal a e(II) was employed as a
suscep ibili y s anda d. A Va ian Ino a 400 spec ome e was
employed o eco d he
1
H NMR spec a ope a ing a oom
empe a u e using ace one-d
6
as a deu e a ed sol en .
Chemical shi s a e epo ed as δ(in ppm).
Syn hesis and cha ac e iza ion o he Schiffbase ligands H
2
L
n
The Schiffbase ligands H
2
L
n
(n=1–5) ha e been p epa ed by a
condensa ion eac ion be ween wo equi alen s o he co es-
ponding hyd oxyl-benzaldehyde unc ionalized wi h e -bu yl
g oups and one equi alen o he amine compound
(Fig. S13†), ollowing he same p ocedu e p e iously epo ed
o H
2
L
1
1and H
2
L
2
2ligands.
41
All he ligands ha e been ully
cha ac e ized by mel ing poin de e mina ion, elemen al ana-
lysis, in a ed spec oscopy, mass spec ome y and
1
H NMR
spec oscopy echniques, as well as by X- ay diff ac ion in he
cases whe e i was possible o ob ain quali y c ys als.
H
2
L
3
3. Yield: 1.38 g (87%); m.p.: 190–195 °C; elemen al ana-
lysis: % heo e ical (C
43
H
54
N
2
O
2
) C, 81.9; N, 4.4; H, 8.6; expe i-
men alC,81.3;N,4.4;H,9.2;IR(cm
−1
)ν:3435s(O–H), 2958 s.
(C–H), 1618 s. (C N), 1250 m (C–O), 820 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF
(m/z)631.1[H
2
L
3
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
,δ(m, nH,
Hx, J)): 13.88 (s, 2H, H
1
), 8.90 (s, 2H, H
2
), 7.50 (bs, J= 2.3 Hz, 2H,
H
3
), 7.46 (bs, J=2.3Hz,2H,H
4
), 7.31 (bs, 8H, H
5
+H
6
), 4.08 (s,
2H, H
7
), 1.47 (s, 18H, H
8
), 1.33 (s, 18H, H
9
).
H
2
L
4
4. Yield: 0.405 g (81%); m.p.: 165–170 °C; elemen al
analysis: % heo e ical (C
43
H
54
N
2
O
2
) C, 81.9; N, 4.4; H, 8.6;
expe imen al C, 80.7; N, 4.3; H, 8.4; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3395 w (O–
H), 2963 s (C–H), 1628 s. (C N), 1265 s (C–O), 824 m (CH
2
);
ESI
+
(m/z) 631.4 [H
2
L
4
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
,δ
(m, nH, Hx, J)): 12.79 (s, 2H, H
1
), 8.56 (s, 2H, H
2
), 7.61 (d, J=
2.2 Hz, 2H, H
3
), 7.52 (dd, J= 8.7, 2.4 Hz, 2H, H
4
), 7.09 (s, 4H,
Fig. 1 Syn hesized Schiffbase ligands H
2
L
n
.
Dal on T ansac ions Pape
This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024 Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 | 5677
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
H
5
), 6.94 (d, J= 8.7 Hz, 2H, H
6
), 3.94 (s, 2H, H
7
), 2.53 (q, J= 7.5
Hz, 8H, H
8
), 1.47 (s, 18H, H
9
); 1.12 ( , J= 7.5 Hz, 12H, H
10
). By
slow e apo a ion o he mo he liquo du ing he syn hesis o
he ligand in e hanol, colou less p isms sui able o X- ay diff -
ac ion s udies we e ob ained H
2
L
4
4*.
H
2
L
5
5. Yield: 0.431 g (86%); m.p.: 110–115 °C; elemen al
analysis: % heo e ical (C
43
H
54
N
2
O
2
) C, 81.9; N, 4.4; H, 8.6;
expe imen al C, 79.8; N, 4.5; H, 8.9; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3433 w (O–
H), 2964 s (C–H), 1618 s. (C N), 1190 s (C–O), 750 m (CH
2
);
ESI
+
(m/z) 631.4 [H
2
L
5
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
,δ
(m, nH, Hx, J)): 13.82 (s, 2H, H
1
), 8.54 (s, 2H, H
2
), 7.45 (dd, J=
7.8, 1.2 Hz, 2H, H
3
), 7.41 (dd, J= 7.8, 1.5 Hz, 2H, H
4
), 7.11 (s,
4H, H
5
), 6.93 ( , J= 7.8 Hz, 2H, H
6
), 3.95 (s, 2H, H
7
), 2.54 (c, J=
7.5 Hz, 8H, H
8
), 1.47 (s, 18H, H
9
); 1.13 ( , J= 7.5 Hz, 12H, H
10
).
By slow e apo a ion o he mo he liquo du ing he syn hesis
o he ligand in e hanol, colou less p isms sui able o X- ay
diff ac ion s udies we e ob ained H
2
L
5
5*.
Syn hesis and cha ac e iza ion o helica es
The elec ochemical syn hesis o nickel, coppe , and zinc
neu al helica es was pe o med using an elec ochemical cell
and a powe supply o egula e he in ensi y (10 mA) and he
po en ial (10–15 V) o he eac ion.
41
The cell con ains a solu-
ion o he Schiffbase ligand in ace oni ile, along wi h a
small quan i y o e ae hylammonium pe chlo a e (10 mg) o
ac as a conduc i e elec oly e. The elec ochemical eac ion
in ol es educ ion o he ligand a he pla inum ca hode and
oxida ion o he me al anode. The elec ochemical cell is
depic ed as ollows:
P ðÞjH2Lnþace oni ilejMðþÞ
The p oposed mechanism o he o ma ion o he neu al
helica es [M
2
(L)
2
] in ol es wo elec ons pe ligand, as shown
below.
Ca hode :2H2Lnþ4e!2ðLnÞ2þ2H2ðgÞ
Anode :2M !2M2þþ4e
Global :2ðLnÞ2þ2M2þ!½M2ðLnÞ2
The main analy ical and cha ac e iza ion da a o he com-
plexes a e gi en below.
[Ni
2
(L
1
)
2
]·H
2
O6.Yellow solid. Yield: 0.071 g (59%); m.p.: >
300 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
70
H
74
N
4
O
5
Ni
2
) C, 72.0; N, 4.8; H, 6.4; expe imen al C, 70.9;
N, 4.7; H, 6.1; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3435 s (O–H); 2958 m (C–H); 1620
s. (C N); 1261 m (C–O); 833 m (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z):
1151.3 [Ni
2
(L
1
)
2
+H]
+
, 1726.5 [Ni
3
(L
1
)
3
+H]
+
;μ
eff
= 3.1 B.M.
[Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
]·H
2
O7.O ange solid. Yield: 0.069 g (58%); m.p.: >
300 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
70
H
74
N
4
O
5
Ni
2
) C, 72.0; N, 4.8; H, 6.4; expe imen al C, 71.3;
N, 4.7; H, 6.4; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3433 s. (O–H); 2957 m (C–H); 1607
s. (C N); 1271 w (C–O); 752 m (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z):
1151.5 [Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
+H]
+
;μ
eff
= 3.0 B.M. By slow e apo a ion o he
mo he liquo du ing he syn hesis, b own c ys als sui able o
X- ay diff ac ion s udies we e ob ained [Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
]·CH
3
CN 7*.
[Ni
2
(L
3
)
2
]8.O ange solid. Yield: 0.064 g (59%); m.p.: decom-
poses a 230 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e-
ical (C
86
H
104
N
4
O
4
Ni
2
) C, 75.1; N, 4.1; H, 7.6; expe imen al C,
73.0; N, 3.9; H, 7.8; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 2956 s (C–H); 1614 s (C N);
1255 m (C–O); 837 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z): 688.7 [Ni(L
3
)+
H]
+
;μ
eff
= 3.4 B. Rec ys alliza ion in dichlo ome hane yielded
yellow p isms sui able o X- ay diff ac ion s udies
[Ni
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
2
Cl
2
8*.
[Ni
2
(L
4
)
2
]·H
2
O9.G een solid. Yield: 0.062 g (54%); m.p.:
255 °C; E
= 0.6 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
106
N
4
O
5
Ni
2
) C, 74.1; N, 4.0; H, 7.7; expe imen al C, 72.6;
N, 3.9; H, 7.5; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3442 m (O–H); 2963 s (C–H); 1618
s. (C N); 1267 m (C–O); 831 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z):
1375.8 [Ni
2
(L
4
)
2
+H]
+
;μ
eff
= 3.2 B.M.
[Ni
2
(L
5
)
2
] 10. B own solid. Yield: 0.065 g (59%); m.p.: 225 °C;
E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
104
N
4
O
8
Ni
2
) C, 75.1; N, 4.1; H, 7.6; expe imen al C, 74.3;
N, 3.9; H, 7.3; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 2967 s (C–H); 1605 s (C N); 1269 w
(C–O); 853 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z): 1375.7 [Ni
2
(L
5
)
2
+H]
+
;
μ
eff
= 3.3 B.M.
[Cu
2
(L
3
)
2
]·H
2
O 11. B own solid. Yield: 0.075 g (65%); m.p.:
200 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
106
N
4
O
5
Cu
2
) C, 73.6; N, 4.0; H, 7.6; expe imen al C, 74.3;
N, 3.9; H, 7.4; IR (KB , cm
−1
): ν=(O–H) 3444 (d), (C–H) 2954
( ), (C N) 1614 ( ), (C–O) 1255 (m), (CH
2
) 833 (d); MALDI-TOF
(m/z) 694.5 [Cu(L
3
)+H]
+
, 1386.9 [Cu
2
(L
3
)
2
+H]
+
;μ
eff
= 1.7 B.M.
By slow e apo a ion o he mo he liquo du ing he syn hesis,
b own c ys als sui able o X- ay diff ac ion s udies we e
ob ained [Cu
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 11*.
[Cu
2
(L
4
)
2
] 12. B own solid. Yield: 0.059 g (51%); m.p.:
260 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
104
N
4
O
4
Cu
2
) C, 71.4; N, 3.9; H, 7.8; expe imen al C, 68.8;
N, 3.7; H, 7.5; IR (KB , cm
−1
): ν=(C–H) 2963 (m), (C N) 1618
(m), (C–O) 1267 (d), (CH
2
) 835 (d); MALDI-TOF (m/z) 691.5 [Cu
(L
4
)+H]
+
, 1386.9 [Cu
2
(L
4
)
2
+H]
+
;μ
eff
= 1.9 B.M.
[Cu
2
(L
5
)
2
]·H
2
O 13. B own solid. Yield: 0.074 g (67%); m.p.:
220 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
104
N
4
O
4
Cu
2
) C, 71.4; N, 3.9; H, 7.8; expe imen al C, 72.3;
N, 3.9; H, 7.3; IR (KB , cm
−1
): ν=(C–H) 2963 (m), (C N) 1603
(m ), (C–O) 1184 (m), (CH
2
) 750 (d); MALDI-TOF (m/z) 691.3
[Cu(L
5
)+H]
+
, 1386.6 [Cu
2
(L
5
)
2
+H]
+
.μ
eff
= 1.8 B.M. By slow
e apo a ion o he mo he liquo du ing he syn hesis, b own
c ys als sui able o X- ay diff ac ion s udies we e ob ained
[Cu
2
(L
5
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 13*.
[Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
] 14. Yellow solid. Yield: 0.071 g (59%); m.p.: >
300 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
70
H
72
N
4
O
4
Zn
2
) C, 72.2; N, 4.8; H, 6.2; expe imen al C, 70.1;
N, 4.5; H, 6.6; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3435 s (O–H); 2959 m (C–H); 1618 s
(C N); 1263 m (C–O); 833 m (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z): 581.9
[Zn(L
1
)−H]
+
, 1165.3 [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
+H]
+
, 1745.4 [Zn
3
(L
1
)
3
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
)δ/ppm: 8.63 (s
b
, 2H, H
2
), 7.50
(s
b
, 2H, H
A
), 7.39 (s
b
, 2H, H
A
), 6.94 (s
b
, 8H, H
A
), 6.84 (s
b
, 2H,
H
A
), 3.87 (s, H
8
), 1.32 (s
b
, 18H, H
9
). Rec ys alliza ion in a
mix u e o dichlo ome hane : me hanol (1 : 1) yielded yellow
p isms sui able o X- ay diff ac ion s udies
[Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14*.
Pape Dal on T ansac ions
5678 |Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
[Zn
2
(L
2
)
2
] 15. Yellow solid. Yield: 0.065 g (58%); m.p.: >
300 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
70
H
72
N
4
O
4
Zn
2
) C, 72.2; N, 4.8; H, 6.2; expe imen al C, 69.1;
N, 5.0; H, 6.0; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 2955 w (C–H); 1614 w (C N); 1292
w (C–O); 752 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z): 581.9 [Zn(L
2
)−H]
+
,
1165.3 [Zn
2
(L
2
)
2
+H]
+
, 1745.4 [Zn
3
(L
2
)
3
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR
(400 MHz, ace one-d
6
)δ/ppm: 8.59 (s, 2H, H
2
), 7.42 (m, H
A
),
7.28 (d, 2H, H
A
), 6.94 (s, 8H, H
5
+H
6
), 6.63 ( , 2H, H
7
), 3.87 (s,
H
8
), 1.48 (s, 18H, H
9
).
[Zn
2
(L
3
)
2
] 16. Yellow solid. Yield: 0.071 g (72%); m.p.:
270 °C; E
= 0.5 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
112
N
4
O
8
Zn
2
) C, 70.7; N, 3.8; H, 7.7; expe imen al C, 68.6;
N, 3.6; H, 7.3; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3442 m (O–H); 2958 m (C–H); 1616
s(C N); 1253 m (C–O); 789 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z): 1389.0
[Zn
2
(L
3
)
2
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
)δ/ppm: 8.60 (s,
2H, H
2
), 7.56 (s
a
, 2H, H
3
), 7.26 (s
a
, 2H, H
4
), 6.94 (s
a
, 8H, H
A
),
3.87 (s, H
5
), 1.50 (s, 18H, H
6
), 1.33 (s, 18H, H
7
).
[Zn
2
(L
4
)
2
] 17. Yellow solid. Yield: 0.060 g (54%); m.p.:
265 °C; E
= 0.6 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
104
N
4
O
4
Zn
2
) C, 74.4; N, 4.0; H, 7.5; expe imen al C, 73.1;
N, 3.9; H, 7.3; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 2963 s (C–H); 1622 s. (C N);
1260 m (C–O); 833 w (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z): 1389.6 [Zn
2
(L
4
)
2
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
)δ/ppm: 8.25 (s, 2H, H
2
),
7.61–6.66 (m, 10H, H
A
), 3.99 (s, H
7
), 2.53 (c, 8H, H
8
), 1.27 (m,
18H, H
9
), 0.77 ( , 12H, H
10
).
[Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]·H
2
O 18. Yellow solid. Yield: 0.052 g (46%); m.p.:
225 °C; E
= 0.7 mol F
−1
; elemen al analysis: % heo e ical
(C
86
H
106
N
4
O
5
Zn
2
) C, 73.4; N, 4.0; H, 7.6; expe imen al C, 73.1;
N, 3.8; H, 7.4; IR (cm
−1
)ν: 3442 m (O–H); 2965 s (C–H); 1607
s. (C N); 1180 m (C–O); 750 m (CH
2
); MALDI-TOF (m/z):
1388.6 [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
+H]
+
;
1
H-NMR (400 MHz, ace one-d
6
)δ/ppm:
8.22 (s, 2H, H
2
), 7.46–7.36 (m, H
A
), 7.20 (d, H
A
), 7.15–7.13 (m,
H
A
), 6.69 (s
a
,H
A
), 6.55 ( , 2H, H
6
), 4.01 (s, H
7
), 2.54 (c, H
8
),
1.44 (s, H
9
), 0.84 ( , H
10
). By slow e apo a ion o he mo he
liquo du ing he syn hesis, b own c ys als sui able o X- ay
diff ac ion s udies we e ob ained [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 18*.
C ys allog aphic da a collec ion
C ys allog aphic da a o ligands H
2
L
4
4* and H
2
L
5
5* and
compounds 7*,8*,11*,13*,14* and 18* we e collec ed a
100 K on a B uke D8 VENTURE diff ac ome e equipped wi h
a CCD de ec o , using a MoK(α) g aphi e monoch oma o (λ=
0.71073 Å). The da a we e ea ed using APPEX3 2018.7-2 so -
wa e o all compounds, excep o complex 8* and 11*, which
we e ea ed using APPEX2 (B uke AXS). In all cases, an
abso p ion co ec ion (SADABS)
42
was applied o he measu ed
e lec ions. The H
2
L
5
s uc u e was sol ed using SHELXT 2014/
5,
43
while he emaining s uc u es we e sol ed wi h
SHELXT2018/2.2. All s uc u es we e e ined using
SHELXL2018/3,
44
wi h he excep ion o he 11* s uc u e,
which was e ined using SHELXL2016/6.
43
Hyd ogen a oms
we e included in he model a geome ically calcula ed and
e ined posi ions. The images included in his chap e we e
p epa ed using Me cu y.
45
CCDC 2321087–2321094†con ain
he supplemen a y c ys allog aphic da a o he compounds.
Resul s and discussion
Schiffbase ligands H
2
L
n
The amily o Schiffbase ligands named H
2
L
n
(n=1–5, Fig. 1)
is po en ially dianionic wi h wo biden a e [NO] domains sep-
a a ed by a semi- igid a oma ic space . The ligands we e ully
cha ac e ized using a wide a ie y o echniques, as de ailed in
he Expe imen al sec ion and in Fig. S1–S3 and Tables S1 and
S2, (ESI).†
The s udy o he ligand c ys al s uc u es is ele an since i
allows us o explo e he con o ma ional changes ha should
be unde gone o coo dina e o he me al ions. P e ious s udies
showed ha he p esence o a la ge space de e mined ha
each o he [NO] linke domains o he ligand coo dina ed o
diffe en me al ions, gi ing ise o dinuclea helicoidal o
meso-helicoidal s uc u es.
46
Quali y c ys als alid o X- ay diff ac ion s udies o ligands
H
2
L
4
4* (Fig. 2) and H
2
L
5
5* (Fig. 3) we e ob ained by slow
e apo a ion o he e hanol mo he liquo s du ing he syn-
hesis. Due o he simila i y o hei s uc u es, bo h will be
discussed oge he below.
The s uc u es show disc e e molecules c ys allizing in he
iclinic P1
ˉsys em. In bo h ligands he wo b anches exhibi
an Econ igu a ion wi h espec o he imine bonds and a syn-
ype con o ma ion, wi h espec o he space , wi h he wo
ligand b anches o ien ed owa d he same side. This con o -
ma ion is achie ed by he es ablishmen o s ong in a-
molecula hyd ogen bonds
47
in ol ing he imine ni ogen o
each ligand b anch and he phenol g oup (H
2
L
4
4*:O2–
H20⋯N2 2.574 Å, O1–H10⋯N1 2.615 Å and H
2
L
5
5*:O2–
H20⋯N1 2.586 Å, O1–H10⋯N2 2.565 Å). These in e ac ions
a e diffe en in he wo ligands due o he opposi e o ien a ion
adop ed by he phenol ing as a consequence o he posi ion
o he e -bu yl g oup (o ho o pa a). In he case o an o ho
Fig. 2 S ick ep esen a ion o he ligand H
2
L
4
4* showing he syn
configu a ion o i s b anches and he in amolecula hyd ogen bonds.
Fig. 3 S ick ep esen a ion o he ligand H
2
L
5
5* showing he syn
configu a ion o i s b anches and he in amolecula hyd ogen bonds.
Dal on T ansac ions Pape
This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024 Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 | 5679
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
subs i u ion a o a ion a ound he C N bond is equi ed o
a oid un a ou able s e ic hind ance. The imine and phenol
dis ances a e in he usual ange ound in Schiffbase
ligands.
48,49
Assembly o nickel(II), coppe (II) and zinc(II) complexes
The nex s ep was he p epa a ion o he nickel, coppe and
zinc de i ed complexes wi h he ligands o he se ies H
2
L
n
.I
is well known ha me al ions would ha e hei own coo dina-
i e p e e ences and diffe en affini ies o dono a oms, so he
use o me al ions wi h diffe en elec onic con igu a ions
could lead o dis inc me allosup amolecula s uc u es.
The Cu
2+
me al ion is a d
9
sys em ha could exhibi
diffe en coo dina ion geome ies: squa e-plana o e ahed al
( ou -coo dina e), squa e py amidal o igonal bipy amidal
( i e-coo dina e) o oc ahed al (six-coo dina e). I is impo an
o men ion ha he Cu(II) complexes de i ed om he ligands
H
2
L
1
and H
2
L
2
we e p e iously epo ed by us.
41
Bo h com-
plexes we e ound o be simila e acoo dina ed helica es
[Cu
2
(L
1|2
)
2
]·xCH
3
CN showing a dis o ed e ahed al en i on-
men . In ha wo k we obse ed ha he posi ion o he bulky
-bu yl g oups in luenced he in e molecula Cu–Cu dis ance
in he ex ended s uc u es and hei magne ic beha iou .
Ou s udy was comple ed wi h Ni
2+
, whose elec onic con-
igu a ion is d
8
. The p e e en ial coo dina ion sphe es o Ni
2+
a e six-coo dina e (oc ahed al geome y)
19,50
o ou -coo dina e
complexes wi h plana -squa e i he ligand- ield is s ong.
51
Howe e , he e a e also some examples o e ahed al geome-
ies.
52
We ha e also chosen he so e acid Zn
2+
ion, a d
10
sys em whose geome ical p e e ences a e mo e a iable: oc a-
hed al (six-coo dina e),
53
pen acoo dina e wi h a squa e-based
py amidal geome y,
54,55
o he mos common ype, he e a-
hed al geome y ( ou -coo dina e).
16,54
The neu al nickel, coppe and zinc complexes de i ed om
he Schiffbase ligand se ies H
2
L
n
we e p epa ed using an
elec ochemical me hodology.
41
The isola ed complexes a e
powde y solids s able o ligh and ai . Bo h analy ical and spec-
oscopic da a allow us o p opose dinuclea s oichiome y
[M
2
(L
n
)
2
] o he complexes, wi h he ligands being bound o
he me al ions in hei dianionic [L
n
]
2−
o m. The IR spec a o
he complexes exhibi some shi ing in he ν(C N) and ν(C–O)
bands, hus indica ing ha he ligand coo dina es o he me al
ion ia he imine ni ogen and phenolic oxygen a oms. The
dinuclea na u e o hese complexes was addi ionally con-
i med by MALDI-TOF (+) mass spec ome y expe imen s as
peaks co esponding o he dinuclea agmen s [M
2
(L
n
)
2
+H]
+
we e obse ed (Fig. S4–S8†).
X- ay diff ac ion s udies
The X- ay diff ac ion echnique allowed us o analyse whe he
he numbe and posi ion o he bulky g oups o he ligands
and he na u e and coo dina i e p e e ences o he me al ion
in luence he inal a chi ec u e o he complexes. Slow e apo -
a ion o he mo he liquo s du ing he syn hesis o 7,11,13
and 18, and ec ys alliza ion in dichlo ome hane (solid 8)o
dichlo ome hane : me hanol (solid 14) allowed us o ob ain
alid c ys als o X- ay diff ac ion s udies.
All he s uc u es show ou -coo dina e dinuclea neu al
helica e- ype a chi ec u e (Fig. 4) o med by wo s ands o he
dianionic ligand [L
n
]
2−
, which c oss-coo dina e a ound he wo
M(II) ions [M = Ni, Cu, and Zn].
Speci ically, he s uc u es e ealed he o ma ion o dinuc-
lea neu al helica es [Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
]·CH
3
CN 7* (Fig. 5),
[Ni
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
2
Cl
2
8* (Fig. 6), [Cu
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 11* (Fig. 7),
[Cu
2
(L
5
)
2
]·3CH
3
CN 13* (Fig. 8), [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14*
(Fig. 9) and [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 18* (Fig. 10). Tables S3–S8†
summa ize he mos ele an dis ances and angles.
The six c ys al s uc u es a e simila so, in o de o a oid
epe i i e desc ip ions, we will only desc ibe in de ail he zinc
complex [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14* (Fig. 9), highligh ing only
some s uc u al ac s ha could be a ibu ed o he subs i-
u ion in he emaining complexes.
The molecula s uc u e o 14* (Fig. 9) shows a non-cen o-
symme ic dinuclea neu al Zn
2+
complex. The wo H
2
L
1
ligands a e helically a anged a ound he wo Zn
2+
ions, so
hese me al cen es ha e he same absolu e con igu a ion. The
wo enan iome s a e p esen in he c ys al cell as a acema e.
The Schiffbase ligands ac in such a way ha each o hei
biden a e [NO] b anches coo dina e o a diffe en me al ion
Fig. 4 Spacefill ep esen a ion o he [Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
]·CH
3
CN 7* complex,
showing he helicoidal s uc u e common o all he complexes s udied
by X- ay diff ac ion.
Fig. 5 C ys al s uc u e o he nickel(II) helica e [Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
]·CH
3
CN 7*.
Sol en molecules and hyd ogen a oms ha e been omi ed o cla i y.
Pape Dal on T ansac ions
5680 |Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online

gi ing ise o a dis o ed e ahed al geome y [≠109.5
0
]. The
O–M–N bond angles clea ly show he dis o ion o he e a-
hed al geome y (Table S7†). The main bond dis ances Zn–O
and Zn–N a e in he expec ed anges o complexes de i ed
om Schiffbase ligands wi h phenol g oups
56
wi h he Zn–O
dis ance being sligh ly sho e han Zn–N dis ance (Table S7†).
The in e me allic dis ance Zn⋯·Zn (11.639 Å) is simila o he
dis ance be ween he zinc ions in dinuclea helicoidal com-
pounds and does no dese e u he commen s.
56
On he o he hand, hyd ogen bonds a e es ablished
be ween he O3 and O4 phenolic oxygens o he helica e
ligands and wo me hanol molecules. In line wi h his, one o
he sol en molecules o ms a hyd ogen bond wi h an adjacen
me hanol molecule [O6–H6⋯O3 2.74 Å, O5–H5⋯O4 2.76 Å
and O6–H6⋯O7 2.74 Å] (Fig. S9†). Addi ionally, he exis ence
o eigh a oma ic ings in each helica e makes i necessa y o
explo e a oma ic π–πo CH⋯·πs acking in e ac ions. Thus,
he e a e weak π–πin e ac ions be ween he a oma ic ings o
he wo ligands ha con ibu e o he s abiliza ion o he heli-
coidal s uc u e [ he dis ance be ween cen oids: 4.48 Å and
4.63 Å] (Fig. S9†).
In he case o he c ys al la ice o [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14*
(Fig. 11), in e molecula π–πin e ac ions a e obse ed be ween
he a oma ic ings o he space o adjacen helica es (a cen-
oid–cen oid dis ance o 3.95 Å), wi h hese in e ac ions
being s onge han he in amolecula ones (cen oid o cen-
oid dis ances: 4.2 and 4.6 Å).
57
Addi ionally, hese in e -
Fig. 7 C ys al s uc u e o he coppe (II) helica e [Cu
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 11*.
Sol en molecules and hyd ogen a oms ha e been omi ed o cla i y.
Fig. 8 C ys al s uc u e o he coppe (II) helica e [Cu
2
(L
5
)
2
]·3CH
3
CN
13*. Sol en molecules and hyd ogen a oms ha e been omi ed o
cla i y.
Fig. 10 C ys al s uc u e o he zinc(II) helica e [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 18*.
Sol en molecules and hyd ogen a oms ha e been omi ed o cla i y.
Fig. 6 C ys al s uc u e o he nickel(II) helica e [Ni
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
2
Cl
2
8*.
Sol en molecules and hyd ogen a oms ha e been omi ed o cla i y.
Fig. 9 C ys al s uc u e o he zinc(II) helica e [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14*.
Sol en molecules and hyd ogen a oms ha e been omi ed o cla i y.
Dal on T ansac ions Pape
This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024 Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 | 5681
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
ac ions a e obse ed be ween one o he phenyl ings o he
space and he a oma ic ing o a linke domain (cen oid–cen-
oid dis ances o 3.59 and 3.44 Å).
In addi ion, CH⋯πin e ac ions be ween he a oma ic ing
o one o he ligand b anches and one o he e -bu yl subs i-
uen s o he adjacen helica e can be obse ed in he c ys al-
line packing o [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14*, (Fig. S10†).
I should be no ed ha he six helicoidal s uc u es s udied
exhibi simila packing pa e ns o he 14* helica e, excep in
he case o he [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]·2CH
3
CN 18* helica e (Fig. 10), whe e
he s acking dis ances a e much longe .
Addi ionally, as can be seen in Fig. S11–S14†, hecomplexes
wi h e -bu yl g oups in he o ho posi ion o he phenol g oups
(7*,8*,11*,13*,and18*) exhibi hyd ogen bonds be ween he
CH
3
o he e -bu yl g oups and he phenolic oxygens.
Addi ionally, he c ys al s uc u e de i ed om he H
2
L
5
ligand
unc ionalized wi h e hyl g oups on he space exhibi s CH⋯π
in e ac ions be ween he e hyl g oups and he a oma ic ings o
he adjacen ligand space (Fig. S13 and S14†).
The ob ainmen o dinuclea helica es in all hese cases
shows ha he posi ion and/o he numbe o bulky g oups in
he ligands does no affec he ype o s uc u e isola ed, bu i
does affec he mic os uc u e o he helica es.
Ou esul s demons a ed ha he unc ionaliza ion o he
ligands wi h e hyl subs i uen s in he space (H
2
L4 and H
2
L
5
)
gene a es new in amolecula non-co alen CH⋯πin e ac ions
be ween he CH
2
o he e hyl g oups and he a oma ic ings o
he space o he adjacen ligand, which could addi ionally
a ou he helicoidal con o ma ion in he compounds.
Fu he mo e, he esul s demons a e ha he use o me al
ions wi h diffe en na u es (Cu
2+
,Ni
2+
and Zn
2+
) does no
affec he a angemen o he ligands a ound he me al
cen es. In all cases, helica e a chi ec u es we e achie ed, indi-
ca ing ha he a ia ion om Cu
2+
o Ni
2+
o a simila -sized
me al ion Zn
2+
, wi h no ligand- ield s abiliza ion ene gy, does
no affec he mac os uc u e o he compounds.
I we check he coo dina ion ke nels in he wo pai s o Ni
(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) helica es we can see ha he Zn(II) heli-
ca es show a dis o ed e ahed al geome y in bo h cases (14*:
τZn1 = 0.85, τZn2 = 0.76, Table S7;†18*:τZn1 = 0.82,
Table S8†), and he me al ions in he Cu(II) helica es exhibi
in e media e τ
4
alues (11*:τCu1 = 0.43; 13*:τCu1 = 0.58,
τCu2 = 0.42).
58
Howe e , in he case o he Ni(II) helica e
[Ni
2
(L
2
)
2
]·CH
3
CN 7*, his exhibi s a dis o ed e ahed al geo-
me y a ound one o he nickel ions (Ni1) and a dis o ed
squa e-plana geome y a ound he second me al ion
(Table S3,†τNi1 = 0.76; τNi2 = 0.30) whe eas a dis o ed
squa e-plana en i onmen a ound bo h Ni
2+
me al ions was
ound in he case o [Ni
2
(L
3
)
2
]·2CH
2
Cl
2
8* (Table S4,†τNi1 =
0.28). In his case, he p esence o one (H
2
L
2
) o wo e -bu yl
g oups (H
2
L
3
) in he pe iphe y o he ligands does affec he
mic os uc u e o he nickel complexes ob ained.
1
H NMR s udies
Hannon and co-wo ke s
37
ha e a wide expe ience in he p epa-
a ion o helica e/mesoca e complexes wi h bisphenylme hane
de i ed ligands. In hese s udies, hey s a ed ha a ca e ul ana-
lysis o he
1
H NMR spec um in he alipha ic egion may be
indica i e o he exclusi e p esence o he mesoca e and heli-
ca e con o ma ions (Fig. 12) in solu ion, o he coexis ence o
bo h o ms.
In his sense, hey concluded ha i he ligand space is no
unc ionalised wi h alkyl subs i uen s in he phenyl ings, a
mix u e o helica e–mesoca e is shown, whe eas when adding
bulky g oups (e hyl and me hyl) o he ligand space , he
mesoca e a chi ec u e is p ecluded. This could be explained by
he ligand wis ing induced by he alkyl g oups and also by he
es ablishmen o new CH⋯πin e molecula in e ac ions
which a ou he helica e- ype a chi ec u e (dinuclea and i-
nuclea wi h Me, and dinuclea wi h E ).
Wha happens i we also in oduce bulky g oups in he
ligand b anches? T ying o go a s ep u he we s udied he ali-
pha ic me hylene egion o he se ies o he zinc complexes
14,15,16,17 and 18 in o de o explo e whe he he helical
s uc u e obse ed in he solid s a e is main ained in solu ion.
The zinc complex 14 [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
] de i ed om he ligand wi h
he pa a e -bu yl g oup posi ion shows a cen al single signal
co esponding o he helica e- ype con o ma ion and ou
addi ional sa elli e signals ha could co espond o mesoca e
species (Fig. 13), hus con i ming ha bo h species co-exis in
solu ion. The e o e, he p esence o an ex e nal e -bu yl
g oup oge he wi h he non-subs i u ed space does no ip
Fig. 12 Helica e (le ) and mesoca e ( igh ) con o ma ions.
Fig. 11 In e molecula π-s acking in e ac ions in he c ys al la ice o
he complex [Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]·2.8CH
3
OH 14*.
Pape Dal on T ansac ions
5682 |Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
he balance owa ds he mesoca e o helica e species ha co-
exis in solu ion.
In con as , he zinc complexes 15,16,17 and 18 show one
single , hus indica ing he exclusi e p esence o he helica e
species in solu ion only (Fig. 14). These expe imen al obse -
a ions indica e ha in he absence o bulky g oups in he
space , he equilib ium o helica e/mesoca e is displaced o
helica e a e unc ionaliza ion o he ex e nal ings wi h a e
bu yl g oup in he o ho posi ion o he phenol.
Likewise, in he case o he zinc complexes de i ed om
he ligands unc ionalised wi h he e hyl g oups in he space
ings, [Zn
2
(L
4
)
2
]17 and [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]18, he helica e- ype s uc-
u e is also con i med by he appea ance o ou signals co es-
ponding o dias e eo opic e hyl CH
2
p o ons (Fig. 15).
Thus, wo o he signals appea a low ield wi h espec o
he ee ligand and he emaining wo signals appea a high
Fig. 14
1
H NMR spec um o he CH
2
g oup alipha ic egion o
[Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]18 (400 MHz, . ., ace one-d
6
).
Fig. 13
1
H NMR spec um o he CH
2
g oup alipha ic egion o
[Zn
2
(L
1
)
2
]14 (400 MHz, . ., ace one-d
6
).
Fig. 15
1
H NMR spec um o he alipha ic egion o [Zn
2
(L
5
)
2
]18 (400 MHz, . ., ace one-d
6
).
Table 1 Summa y o he deduced helix o he meso-helical na u e o
he Zn(II) compounds 14–18 om
1
H NMR spec oscopy
Complex Species Space ings Salicyloyl ings
14 Hel/Mes
15 Hel
16 Hel
17 Hel
18 Hel
Hel = Helica e; Mes = Mesoca e.
Dal on T ansac ions Pape
This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024 Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 | 5683
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online
ield. In addi ion, wo signals co esponding o he CH
3
o he
e hyl g oups a e obse ed, one o which appea s unshielded
wi h espec o he ee ligand due o he exis ence o
π-s acking in e ac ions along he c ys al la ice.
37
The e o e, he esul s o hese NMR s udies allow us o
deduce ha he d i ing ac o de e mining he exis ence in
solu ion o helica e o a helica e–mesoca e mix u e does no
eside exclusi ely in he space , as he in oduc ion o an o ho
bulky g oup on he ex e nal su ace o he helica e displaces
he equilib ium o helica e–mesoca e owa ds he helica e
(Fig. 14 and Table 1). Howe e , he in oduc ion o e hyl
g oups in he ligand space s ill s e ically a ou s he o -
ma ion o helica es, independen ly o he p esence o bulky
g oups in he pe iphe y o he complex (Fig. 15 and Table 1).
Conclusions
Dinuclea nickel(II), coppe (II) and zinc(II) complexes we e iso-
la ed using an elec ochemical me hodology om a amily o
i e Schiffbase ligands de i ed om bisphenylme hane and
unc ionalized wi h bulky e -bu yl g oups. The in oduc ion
o bulky g oups on bo h he space and ligand b anches
a ou s he o ma ion o dinuclea helica es. F om he six
c ys al s uc u es epo ed in his wo k, we can conclude ha
small modi ica ions o he ligands do no affec he mac o-
s uc u e o he compounds, all o hem being helica es.
Howe e , he mic os uc u e, e.g., he me al ion en i onmen ,
could be al e ed in some cases. Besides, he in oduc ion o
e hyl subs i uen s in he space p o ides new in amolecula
in e ac ions ha s abilize he helica e- ype a chi ec u e o he
compounds. Fu he mo e, he
1
H NMR s udy e eals ha he
p esence o he e -bu yl g oup in he o ho posi ion wi h
espec o he OH g oup is essen ial o he main enance o
he helica e con o ma ion in solu ion.
Au ho con ibu ions
The manusc ip was w i en h ough he con ibu ions o all
au ho s. All au ho s ha e gi en app o al o he inal e sion o
he manusc ip .
Conflic s o in e es
The e a e no con lic s o decla e.
Acknowledgemen s
This esea ch was unded by he ollowing FEDER co- unded
g an s: Conselle ía de Cul u a, Educación e O denación
Uni e si a ia, Xun a de Galicia GRC GI-1584 (ED431C 2023/
02), Me alBIONe wo k (ED431D2017/01), and Minis e io de
Ciencia e Inno ación, P ojec PID2021-127531NB-I00 (AEI/
10.13039/501100011033/FEDER/UE).
Re e ences
1 J.-M. Lehn, Angew. Chem., In . Ed. Engl., 1988, 27,89–112.
2 M. Alb ech , M. Fiege and O. Ose ska, Coo d. Chem. Re .,
2008, 252, 812–824.
3 J. M. Lehn, Chem. Soc. Re ., 2007, 36, 151–160.
4 G. F. Swiege s and T. J. Male e se, Chem. Re ., 2000, 100,
3483–3537.
5 H. Sepeh pou , W. Fu, Y. Sun and P. J. S ang, J. Am. Chem.
Soc., 2019, 141, 14005–14020.
6 E. Chinna aja, R. A unachalam, E. Su esh, S. K. Sen,
R. Na a ajan and P. S. Sub amanian, Ino g. Chem., 2019, 58,
4465–4479.
7 V. Ma ínez-Ag amun and E. Pe is, Ino g. Chem., 2019, 58,
11836–11842.
8 J. M. Lehn, A. Rigaul , J. Siegel, J. Ha ow ield, B. Che ie
and D. Mo as, P oc. Na l. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 1987, 84, 2565–
2569.
9 C. T. McTe nan, T. K. Ronson and J. R. Ni schke, J. Am.
Chem. Soc., 2021, 143, 664–670.
10 C. Pigue , G. Be na dinelli and G. Hop ga ne , Chem. Re .,
1997, 97, 2005–2062.
11 S. Fe nández-Fa iña, M. Ma ínez-Cal o, M. Manei o,
J. M. Seco, G. Za agoza, A. M. González-Noya and
R. Ped ido, Ino g. Chem., 2022, 61, 14121–14130.
12 H. Miyake and H. Tsukube, Chem. Soc. Re ., 2012, 41,
6977–6991.
13 M. Alb ech , X. Chen and D. Van C aen, Chem. –Eu . J.,
2019, 25, 4265–4273.
14 J. L. G een ield and J. R. Ni schke, Acc. Chem. Res., 2022,
55, 391–401.
15 M. Alb ech , Chem. Re ., 2001, 101, 3457–3497.
16 M. J. Rome o, M. Ma ínez-Cal o, M. Manei o, G. Za agoza,
R. Ped ido and A. M. González-Noya, Ino g. Chem., 2019,
58, 881–889.
17 T. L. Ho, Chem. Re ., 1975, 75,1–20.
18 J. M. Lehn, Eu . Re ., 2009, 17, 263–280.
19 A. A. Escue , J. Mayans, L. Di Ba i, M. Fon -, L. A ico and
F. Zinna, Chem. –Eu . J., 2018, 24, 7653–7663.
20 N. Wu, C. F. C. Melan, K. A. S e enson, O. Fleischel,
H. Guo, F. Habib, R. J. Holmbe g, M. Mu ugesu,
N. J. Mosey, H. Nie enga en and A. Pe i jean, Dal on
T ans., 2015, 44, 14991–15005.
21 M. Bhol, R. L. Bo ka , B. Shanka , S. K. Panda, M. Wolff
and M. Sa hiyendi an, Ino g. Chem., 2023, 62, 11554–11569.
22 J. E. Niklas, E. A. Hi i, G. R. Wilkinson, J. T. Mayhugh,
J. D. Go den and A. E. V. Go den, Ino g. Chim. Ac a, 2022,
529, 120653.
23 (a) K. L. Flin , D. M. Huang, O. M. Linde -Pa on,
C. J. Sumby and F. R. Keene, Eu . J. Ino g. Chem., 2022,
e202200225; (b) U. Phukon, B. Shanka and
M. Sa hiyendi an, Dal on T ans., 2022, 51, 16307–16315.
24 F. Cui, S. Li, C. Jia, J. S. Ma hieson, L. C onin, X. Yang and
B. Wu, Ino g. Chem., 2012, 51, 179–187.
25 S. J. Allison, D. Cooke, F. S. Da idson, P. I. P. Ellio ,
R. A. Faulkne , H. B. S. G iffi hs, O. J. Ha pe , O. Hussain,
Pape Dal on T ansac ions
5684 |Dal on T ans.,2024,53,5676–5685 This jou nal is © The Royal Socie y o Chemis y 2024
Open Access A icle. Published on 06 Ma ch 2024. Downloaded on 4/22/2024 8:56:25 AM.
This a icle is licensed unde a
C ea i e Commons A ibu ion-NonComme cial 3.0 Unpo ed Licence.
View A icle Online