Fluorine-based Zn salan complexes

Area of Science:

• Coordination Chemistry
• Fluorine Chemistry
• Supramolecular Chemistry

Background:

• Zinc salan complexes are versatile coordination compounds.
• Fluorine-based complexes offer unique spectroscopic properties for sensing applications.
• Atmospheric moisture absorption and solvent interactions can influence complex behavior in solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize novel zinc salan fluorine-based complexes.
• To investigate the solution-state behavior (dimeric-monomeric equilibrium) of these complexes.
• To evaluate their potential as chemosensors for amine detection using 19F NMR.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of racemic and chiral zinc salan fluorine-based complexes.
• Solution studies using experimental and theoretical methods to determine equilibrium.
• 19F NMR spectroscopy to assess amine sensing capabilities.

Main Results:

• Successful synthesis of two Zn salan fluorine-based complexes from available materials.
• Complexes exhibit susceptibility to atmospheric water absorption.
• In DMSO-H2O solutions, a dimeric-monomeric equilibrium was observed.
• Strongly coordinating solvents (water, DMSO) limit sensing efficiency due to slow analyte exchange.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized Zn salan fluorine-based complexes are readily accessible.
• These complexes can exist in solution as a dimeric-monomeric equilibrium.
• While exhibiting amine sensing potential via 19F NMR, solvent coordination hinders practical application without analyte excess.