Tuning the coordination chemistry of cyclotriveratrylene ligand pairs through alkyl chain aggregation

Abstract

Propylated cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) ligands display different coordination chemistry over their methylated congeners as a result of increased solubility, an affinity for alkyl chain aggregation and steric factors. The propylated ligand tris(isonicotinoyl)-tris(propoxy)-cyclotricatechylene (L1p) forms a 1D coordination polymer within complex {[Ag(L1p)[Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]](DMF)}_∞ (complex 1p), and a 2D sheet of 4·8² topology in {[Cd(L1p)(ONO₂)₂(H₂O)]·(DMF)·0.5(Et₂O)}_∞ (complex 2p), neither of which are formed with the analogous methylated ligand tris(isonicotinoyl)-cyclotriguaiacylene (L1m). Both complexes 1p and 2p display multiple sites of aggregation of hydrophobic groups. The new propylated ligand tris(2-quinolylmethyl)-tris(propoxy)-cyclotricatechylene (L2p) forms a 1D coordination polymer with Ag(I) in complex{[Ag₂(L2p)₂][Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]₂·1.5(MeNO₂)}_∞ (complex 3p) and a novel, compressed octahedral structure with palladium(II) cations, [Pd₆(L2p)₄(CF₃CO₂)₁₂] (complex 4p). Neither complex was accessible with the methylated congener tris(2-quinolylmethyl)-cyclotriguaiacylene (L2m).