Preparation of site-differentiated mixed ligand and mixed ligand/mixed metal metallacrowns

Assembly reactions that can prepare reliably regioselective metallamacrocyclic complexes have been a target in the development of metallacrowns. To this end, a series of mixed ligand and mixed ligand/mixed metal metallacrowns have been synthesized in high yield and structurally characterized. Two distinct connectivities have been observed in these types of metallacrowns. The monomeric, vacant metallacrown with mixed ligand composition [12-MC(Ni(II)N(Hshi)2(pko)2-4)] (1a) shows the connectivity pattern [-O-Ni-O-N-Ni-N-]2 while the other Ni metallacrowns, [12-MC(Ni(II)N(shi)2(pko)2-4)] (2a) and the coupled [12-MC(Ni(II)N(shi))2(pko)2-4)][12-MC(Ni(II)N(shi))3(pko)-4)] (3a) fused metallacrowns as well as the mixed metal Mn-Ni metallacrown [12-MC(Ni(II)Mn(III)N(shi)2(pko)2-4)] (4a), follow the pattern [-Ni-O-N-]4. Also, three distinct arrangements of the chelate rings around the metal ions have been observed. The syntheses are completely general, allowing for the substitution of different ligands into the metallacrown core. Compounds 1 and 4 show the 6-5-6-5-6-5-6-5 arrangement, compounds 2 and 3(1) the 6-6-5-5-6-6-5-5, and the 3(2) component the 6-6-5-5-6-5-6-5. The obtained structures can be rationalized by balancing the charge at each metal site in the metallacrown. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements show that exchange interactions for all the compounds are weak and dominantly antiferromagnetic (e.g., 2a gives an exchange coupling of J = -1.2 cm(-1) with g = 2.2). In solution, the metallacrowns are shown to be stable both to decomposition and ligand exchange.