Interpenetrated constitutional networks of aromatic metallosupramolecular duplexes

• Published in: Supramolecular chemistry 2009-04, Vol.21 (3-4), p.230-237
• Main Authors: Legrand, Y.-M., Dumitru, F., Lee, A.V.D., Barboiu, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aromatic interactions; imine; metallosupramolecular complexes; self-assembly
• ISSN: 1061-0278; 1029-0478
• DOI: 10.1080/10610270802478271

We report hierarchical supramolecular organisation promoted by the formation of metallosupramolecular duplex architectures. Three-dimensional supramolecular structure propagation is favoured by long-range aromatic-aromatic interactions towards robust double-helical configuration in 1 2 Zn 2+ , tubular squared architecture in 2 2 Zn 2+ and self-organised triangles in 4 2 Zn 2+ . The advantageous structural features of such external aromatic interactions are not preserved while introducing new variables such as methylene spacer between imine moiety and the aromatic rings, inducing an orthogonal spatial orientation of the peripheral aromatic arms in 3 2 Zn 2+ . Indeed, the introduction of supplementary aromatic functionality in 4 2 Zn 2+ results in the combination of both internal and external forces and has led to metallosupramolecular triangle architectures that are stabilised by three-dimensional 'diphenylmethane embrace motifs'. The homochiral triangles connected via tetrahedral nodes and face-to-face triangle interactions are organised in the crystal that each duplex constituent has an alternative opposite chirality.