Spontaneous resolution through helical association of a Cu–azamacrocyclic complex with Lindqvist-type isopolyanion

Abstract

Anionic metathesis reaction between the perchlorate salt of a copper-tetraazamacrocycle complex and the tetrabutylammonium salt of Lindqvist-type isopolyoxometalates in acetonitrile leads to the formation of two new inorganic–organic hybrid solids formulated as [Cu(L)(MeCN)][W₆O₁₉] (1) and [Cu(L)(MeCN)][Mo₆O₁₉] (2). Interestingly, both ion-pair complexes crystallize in a chiral space groupP2₁2₁2₁. Crystallographic analysis of the obtained compounds reveals the occurrence of spontaneous resolution during crystallization. Both the enantiomorphs of compound 1 have been structurally characterized, whereas the resolution of compound 2 is rather poor.