Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Preparation of SNS Cobalt(II) Pincer Model Complexes of Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase
Published on: March 19, 2020
Electronic Activation versus Steric Protection of a Rh(I) Pincer Complex inside a Supramolecular Metallobox
Sebastián Martínez-Vivas1, Susana Ibáñez1, Eduardo Peris1
1Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Centro de Innovación en Química Avanzada (ORFEO-CINQA), Universitat Jaume I, Av. Vicente Sos Baynat s/n, 12006Castellón, Spain.
None:
We report the formation of a highly stable host-guest assembly between a nanosized iridium(I)-based metallobox and the square-planar pincer complex [RhI(CNC)(CO)]+ (with CNC being a planar pyridine-centered di-N-heterocyclic carbene pincer ligand). NMR and UV-vis studies reveal an exceptionally high binding affinity (Ka = 2.5 × 106 M-1) in methylene chloride. Infrared spectroscopy shows that encapsulation within the electron-rich cavity increases the electron density at the rhodium center, as evidenced by a lowering of the CO stretching frequency. Despite this electronic enrichment, the confined Rh(I) complex becomes remarkably resistant toward oxidative addition with MeI, demonstrating the strong protective effect exerted by the host cavity. These findings highlight how supramolecular confinement can simultaneously tune the electronic structure and reactivity of transition-metal complexes, offering new perspectives for the design of confined catalytic systems.
More Related Videos
10:52Line Shape Analysis of Dynamic NMR Spectra for Characterizing Coordination Sphere Rearrangements at a Chiral Rhenium Polyhydride Complex
Published on: July 27, 2022
08:25Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Published on: January 17, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Radical Reactivity: Steric Effects
Along with electronic factors, steric factors also account...
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Radical Reactivity: Intramolecular vs Intermolecular
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Photochemical Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Photochemical Activation
Complexation Equilibria: Factors Influencing Stability of Complexes