Supramolecular birefringent metallogels formed by trinuclear copper(ii) complexes with myo-inositol and bipyridyl ligands

Abstract

Birefringent metallohydrogels have been prepared via a supramolecular assembly resulting from the trinuclear copper(II) complex of myo-inositol (ins) and 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy), [Cu₃(ins)(bipy)₃]X₃, in which X has been varied as HCOO⁻, CH₃COO⁻ and CH₃CH₂COO⁻. The gel properties including T_gel are found to have a significant anion dependence. The metallogels have been characterized by thermal analysis and spectroscopic methods. The SEM analysis has indicated the presence of a fibrous supramolecular assembly. The metallogels were found to be highly birefringent and organize into quaternary structures that display unique patterns in the microscopic studies under polarized light.