No abstract

The design and synthesis of the macrocycles 1 and 2 as model compounds for the investigation of negative differential conductance phenomena in molecular junctions are reported. The macrocycles 1 and 2 comprise a molecular rod subunit consisting of three ethynyl‐linked phenyl rings. While the rotational freedom along the rod axis of both terminal phenyl rings is limited by the macrocyclic frame, the central phenyl ring is revolving. The rod substructure is terminally functionalized with acetyl‐protected thiol groups to enable its immobilization between gold contacts. The central phenyl ring is functionalized with one and two nitro groups for 1 and 2, respectively. The nitro groups are of particular importance as i) both macrocycles are model compounds to investigate a hypothetical intramolecular interaction of the nitro group with the opposite macrocyclic subunits and ii) the nitro group(s) result in limited thermal stability of the compounds due to the intramolecular rearrangement to macrocycles comprising isatogen subunits. These highly functionalized macrocycles have been assembled by acetylene scaffolding strategies in combination with functional group transformation chemistry.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)

The acid-base behaviour and Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ metal coordination chemistry of the novel orthocyclophane ligands 2,5,8,11-tetraaza[12]orthocyclophane (L 2 ) and 2,5,9,12-tetraaza[13]orthocyclophane (L 3 ) and metacyclophane 2,5,8,11-tetraaza[12]metacylophane (L 1 ) are studied. Important differences in the chemistry of these compounds are found depending on the substitution of the aromatic ring. The ortho derivatives are much more basic in their first two protonation steps while the metacyclophane presents much larger constants in the third and fourth protonation stages. The crystal structure of the picrate salt of [H 2 L 3 ] 2+ shows an alternate disposition of the protons in the molecule with formation of N-H + Á Á ÁN hydrogen bonds between the protonated and non-protonated amino groups. While formation of mononuclear Cu 2+ complexes is observed for L 2 and L 3 , the metaderivative L 1 forms also binuclear Cu 2+ species which predominate largely for molar ratios M:L 2:1. The crystal structure of the complex [CuL 3 Cl](ClO 4 ) shows a chain-like arrangement with the [CuL 3 ] 2+ units interconnected by chlorine atoms. The coordination geometry around the metal ion is a distorted octahedron with the nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle at the vertices of the equatorial plane and chloride anions asymmetrically disposed at the axial positions. The Zn 2+ complexes of the ortho derivatives L 2 and L 3 are also much more stable than the meta counterparts. The crystal structure of [ZnL 3 Cl]ClÁH 2 O shows a square pyramidal geometry with the nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle at the vertices of the equatorial plane and one chloride anion occupying the axial position. In this case there are not chain arrangements. The involvement of all the nitrogen atoms in the coordination of Zn 2+ by L 3 in aqueous solution is proved by 1 H and 13 C NMR.

[structure: see text] The interaction of a macrocycle containing three trans-(1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane units connected by p-xylene spacers with the isomers 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic (1,3,5-BTC), 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic (1,2,4-BTC), and 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylic (1,2,3-BTC) acids and their relevant anions is studied by means of potentiometric and NMR analysis. The interaction is highest for the isomer 1,3,5-BTC, which perfectly fits within the macrocyclic cavity of the host species. The studies have been extended to the triacid 1,3,5-benzenetriacetic observing in this case the effect of a size mismatch between host and guest species.

Three crystal structures of a ditopic cyclophane ligand (L) in which two 1,5,8,12-tetraamine molecules have been attached through methylene spacers to the ortho positions of a benzene ring are reported. The first one (1) corresponds to the tetraprotonated free macrocycle (H4L4+) having two tetrachlorozincate(II) counteranions (C24H54O2N8Cl8Zn2, a = 9.1890(2) A, b = 14.0120(3) A, c = 15.3180(3) A, alpha = 89.2320(7) degrees , beta = 82.0740(6) degrees , gamma = 83.017(1) degrees , Z = 2.00, triclinic, P); the second one (2) is of a binuclear Cu2+ complex having coordinated chloride anions and perchlorate counteranions (C24H58O14N8Cl4Cu2 a = 9.9380(2) A, b = 30.2470(6) A, c = 53.143(1) A, orthorhombic, F2dd, Z = 18), and the third one (3) corresponds to an analogous Zn2+ complex that has been crystallized using triflate as counteranion (C26H(51.2)O(6.6)N8Cl2F6S2Zn2 a = 8.472(5) A, b = 9.310(5), c = 13.745(5) A, alpha = 84.262(5) degrees , beta = 77.490(5) degrees , gamma = 73.557(5) degrees , triclinic, P, Z = 2). The analysis of the crystallographic data clearly shows that the conformation of the macrocycle and, in consequence, the overall architecture of the crystals are controlled by the anions present in the moiety, pi-pi-stacking associations, and hydrogen bonding interactions. The protonation and stability constants for the formation of the Cu2+ and Zn2+ complexes in aqueous solution have been determined potentiometrically in 0.15 mol dm(-3) NaClO4 at 298.1 K. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding defines the protonation behavior of the compound. Positive cooperativity is observed in the formation of the Cu2+ complexes.