Discrete Supramolecular Stacks Based on Multinuclear Tweezer‐Type Rhodium Complexes

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2020-01, Vol.26 (2), p.558-563
• Main Authors: Guo, Bei‐Bei, Azam, Mohammad, AlResayes, Saud I., Lin, Yue‐Jian, Jin, Guo‐Xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chemistry; C−H activation; Ligands; molecular tweezers; polyaromatic ligands; Rhodium; Rhodium compounds; Stacking; Stacks; supramolecular chemistry; Topology
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201904580

By taking advantage of self‐complementary π–π stacking and CH–π interactions, a series of discrete quadruple stacks were constructed through the self‐aggregation of U‐shaped dirhodium metallotweezer complexes featuring various planar polyaromatic ligands. By altering the conjugate stacking strength and bridging ligands, assemblies with a range of topologies were obtained, including a binuclear D‐shaped macrocycle, tetranuclear open‐ended cagelike frameworks, and duplex metallotweezer stacking structures. Furthermore, a rare stacking interaction resulting in selective C−H activation was observed during the self‐assembly process of these elaborate architectures. Stacked tweezers: By altering the stacking strength of planar proligands, metallosupramolecular architectures with different topologies were obtained, including a binuclear macrocycle, tetranuclear cagelike frameworks, and stacked metallotweezer structures. Moreover, a rare stacking‐interaction induced selective C−H activation in the self‐assembly process has been introduced (see scheme).