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Self-assembled squares and triangles by simultaneous hydrogen bonding and metal coordination
Laura J Marshall1, Javier de Mendoza
1Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), 43007-Tarragona, Spain.
Organic Letters
|March 20, 2013
Summary
Hydrogen bonding and metal-templated self-assembly create molecular squares and triangles from UPy and palladium complexes in solution. These distinct supramolecular structures were confirmed using molecular modeling and NMR analysis.
Area of Science:
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Hydrogen-bonded dimers of para-pyridyl-substituted 2-ureido-4-[1H]-pyrimidinone (UPy) are known building blocks in self-assembly.
- Metal-templated self-assembly offers a route to ordered supramolecular structures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation of discrete supramolecular architectures using UPy dimers and palladium complexes.
- To characterize the structures formed in solution through a combination of self-assembly strategies.
Main Methods:
- Metal-templated self-assembly utilizing UPy dimers and cis-substituted palladium complexes.
- Solution-state characterization using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
- Computational analysis through molecular modeling studies.
Main Results:
- Formation of two distinct supramolecular structures: molecular squares and molecular triangles.
- Observation of a tubular structure for the molecular square.
- Identification of a propeller-bowl structure for the molecular triangle.
Conclusions:
- The combination of hydrogen bonding and metal-templated self-assembly effectively produces discrete molecular squares and triangles.
- NMR and molecular modeling confirm the presence and specific geometries of these two distinct structures in solution.
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