Cucurbiturils as Effectors on the Self-Assembly of Pd(II) and Pt(II) Metallacycles

Four bidentate, dicationic ligands (L1-L4²⁺) were prepared and investigated as guests for binding by the cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) host and structural components for metal (Pd and Pt)-coordinated self-assembly into metallacycles. In aqueous solutions, all the ligands were found to form stable complexes of variable stoichiometries with CB[7], and only one (L2) failed to self-assemble, induced by the presence of suitable Pd or Pt complexes, into metallacycles. Exposure of the Pd-based metallacycles to CB[7] led to their disassembly at room temperature, while the Pt-based metallacycles remained stable under these conditions. However, heating of the Pt metallacycles in the presence of CB[7] also led to their disassembly. This interplay between the interactions in aqueous media of the L1, L3, and L4 ligands with the CB[7] host and Pd (or Pt) complexes suggests the possibility of using these or related systems for controlled drug delivery applications.