Heteroleptic Ligation by an endo‐Functionalized Cage

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2021-08, Vol.60 (34), p.18582-18586
• Main Authors: Bete, Sarah C., Otte, Matthias
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomimetics; Cages; Chemical synthesis; Combinatorial analysis; Combinatorial chemistry; Communication; Communications; Crystal structure; Dimerization; dynamic combinatorial chemistry; endo-functionalization; facial triads; Heavy metals; Heme; Imidazole; Iron; iron oxygenases; Ligands; organic cages; Structural models; Transition metals
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202106341

A conceptual approach for the synthesis of quasi‐heteroleptic complexes with properly endo‐functionalized cages as ligands is presented. The cage ligand reported here is of a covalent organic nature, it has been synthesized via a dynamic combinatorial chemistry approach, making use of a masked amine. Inspired by enzymatic active sites, the described system bears one carboxylate and two imidazole moieties as independent ligating units through which it is able to coordinate to transition metals. Analysis of the iron(II) complex in solution and the solid state validates the structure and shows that no undesired but commonly observed dimerization process takes place. The solid‐state structure shows a five‐coordinate metal center with the carboxylate bidentately bound to iron, which makes Fe@2 an unprecedentedly detailed structural model complex for this kind of non‐heme iron oxygenases. As, as confirmed by the crystal structure, sufficient space for other organic ligands is available, the biologically relevant ligand α‐ketoglutarate is implemented. We observe biomimetic reaction behavior towards dioxygen that opens studies investigating Fe@2 as a functional model complex. A cage compound is synthesized that is endo‐functionalized with one carboxylic acid and two imidazole moieties. These groups can cooperate with each other to coordinate to Zn(II) and Fe(II) resulting in biomimetic quasi‐heteroleptic transition‐metal‐cage complexes. Coordination of α‐ketoglutarate to the iron complex leads to an increase of its reactivity towards dioxygen.