Please note: Changes made as a result of publishing processes such as copy-editing, formatting and page numbers may not be reflected in this version. For the definitive version of this publication, please refer to the published source. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite this paper.This version is being made available in accordance with publisher policies. See http://orca.cf.ac.uk/policies.html for usage policies. Copyright and moral rights for publications made available in ORCA are retained by the copyright holders.This is an Accepted Manuscript, which has been through the Royal Society of Chemistry peer review process and has been accepted for publication. The co$ordination chemistry of a tristhiourea tris(2$pyridylmethyl)amine ligand (L 1 ) with a series of transition metal ions has been investigated. Crystallographic data show that large metal ions, with no geometrical preferences , such as Mn(II) and Cd(II), will form seven co$ordinate monocapped octahedral complexes, while smaller metal ions such as Zn(II) favour five co$ordinate 10 trigonal bipyramidal structures. In a similar manner to the related bisthiourea complexes, the Ni(II) complex shows a strong preference for octahedral geometries resulting in the ligand binding asymmetrically. Spectroscopic (IR and NMR), spectrometric (MS) as well as electrochemical data for these complexes are reported.
Accepted Manuscripts) 15 There is great interest in the design and synthesis of anion receptors due to their significance in developing chemical sensors and membranes for selective transport and separation of anions.1$6 The formation of metal complexes which can selectively bind anions has attracted interest due to their 20 potential to offer a three dimensional scaffold from which suitable hydrogen bonding groups may be positioned. 7 The work of Beer 8,9 has been at the forefront of such studies and recently, their work has included anion$templated synthesis of interlocked supramolecular structures 10 and conversely the 25 anion binding of interlocked supramolecular structures.
11Similarly, Leigh has show the extremely high affinity of a central cavity of a molecular knot for halides. 12 Steed has also designed anion receptors based on tripodal molecules derived from 1,3,5$substituted arene groups with additional positive 30 charges which further enhance anion binding.
13Previously the use of urea 14,15,16 and thiourea 17,18 has been shown to be effective for anion binding and placing these moeities in a geometrically well defined array may induce some specificity in anion binding. Reinaud and Jabin have 35 shown how the cavity within a calix[6]arene may be modified with urea and thiourea groups or the formation of biscalix [6]arenes with thiourea and urea linkers produce receptors for anions 19 and more specifically for phosphatidylcholine lipids. 20 Other systems with similar 40 properties has been reviewed by Smith. 21 Recently, we have developed new tripodal ligands bearing thiourea groups on the ligand periphery...