Generation of a zinc and rhodium containing metallomacrocycle by rearrangement of a six-coordinate precursor complex

Abstract

Two pentadentate N₃,P₂ ligands coordinate zinc(II) by their N₃ pocket. Four free phosphine donors allow the coordination of four AuCl moieties leading to a pentanuclear ZnAu₄ complex. In contrast, the attempt to use the phosphines for chelating coordination of two Rh(CO)Cl units results in a well-organized rearrangement that ends up with the formation of a metallomacrocycle in high yields.