Helical metallohost-guest complexes via site-selective transmetalation of homotrinuclear complexes

We have designed a new type of bis(N2O2) chelate ligand that affords a C-shaped O6 site on the metalation of the N2O2 sites. UV-vis and 1H NMR titration clearly showed that the complexation between H4L and zinc(II) acetate affords 1:3 complex [LZn3]2+ via a highly cooperative process. Although the O6-recognition site of the dinuclear metallohost [LZn2] is filled with the additional Zn2+, the O6 site can bind a guest ion with concomitant release of the initially bound Zn2+. The novel recognition process "guest exchange" took place quantitatively when rare earth metals were used as a guest. In the case of alkaline earth metals, selectivity of Ca2+ > Sr2+ > Ba2+ >> Mg2+ was observed. On the other hand, the transmetalation did not take place at all when alkali metals were used for the guest. Accordingly, the trinuclear complex [LZn3]2+ is excellent in discriminating charge of the guest ions. The metallohost-guest complexes thus obtained have a helical structure, and the radius d and winding angle theta of the helix depend on the size of the guest. The La3+ complex has the smallest theta (288 degrees), and the Sc3+ complex has the largest theta (345 degrees). Because the radius and winding angles of helices are tunable by changing the guest ion, the helical metallohost-guest complexes are regarded as a molecular spring or coil. Consequently, site-specific metal exchange of trinuclear complex [LZn3]2+ described here will be utilized for highly selective ion recognition, site-selective synthesis of (3d)2(4f) trimetallic complexes, and construction of "tunable" metallohelicenes.