Construction and Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of a Supramolecular Metal–Carbene Complex with Multifunctional Units

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal 2023-12, Vol.29 (71), p.e202303043-n/a
• Main Authors: Zhang, Zi‐En, An, Yuan‐Yuan, Wang, Fang, Li, Hui‐Ling, Jiang, Wei‐Ling, Han, Ying‐Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonium; Ammonium salts; Chemistry; Construction; crown ether; Crown ethers; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Gels; hierarchical self-assembly; host–guest chemistry; Material properties; metal carbene; Self-assembly; Supramolecular compounds; supramolecular gel
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303043

Hierarchical combinations involving metal–ligand interactions and host−guest interactions can consolidate building blocks with unique functions into material properties. This study reports the construction and hierarchical self‐assembly of multifunctional trinuclear AuI tricarbene complex containing three crown ether units and three ferrocene units. Host−guest interactions between the multifunctional trinuclear AuI tricarbene complex and organic ammonium salts were investigated, revealing that crown ether‐based host−guest interactions can effectively regulate the electrochemical properties of the complex. Utilizing bisammonium salt as the cross‐linker and multifunctional trinuclear AuI tricarbene complex as the core, a stimuli‐responsive and self‐healing supramolecular gel with different functional units was obtained. A multifunctional metal–carbene assembly comprising three crown ether and three ferrocene units close to each other was developed. The introduction of ammonium salts caused crown ether blocks to move far away from the electrochemical center, regulating the redox properties. Using bisammonium salts as cross‐linked agents and metal−carbene complexes as cores can form a stimulus‐responsive and self‐healing supramolecular gel.