A R T I C L E S
Nitschke et al.
Preparative Synthesis of Na+212-. To a 100 mL Schlenk flask was
added 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxaldehyde (0.0197 g, 0.0834
mmol), sulfanilic acid (0.0288 g, 0.166 mmol), copper(I) oxide (0.0059
g, 0.041 mmol), and sodium bicarbonate (0.0069 g, 0.082 mmol). A
magnetic stir bar was added and the flask was sealed. The atmosphere
was purified of dioxygen by three evacuation/argon fill cycles. Water
(16 mL) was then added, causing gas evolution and development of a
green color. Once gas evolution had ceased, the flask was sealed and
the reaction was allowed to stir overnight at room temperature. Volatiles
were then removed under dynamic vacuum, giving an isolated yield
of 0.051 g (98%) of green microcrystalline product, which was pure
In addition to controlling the extent of self-assembly, this
difference in pKa’s may also be used to drive ligand-component
substitution reactions, in fashion similar to what we have shown
in mononuclear systems.36 When sulfanilic acid (1.2 equiv per
incorporated amine) was added to a solution of helicate
incorporating amine a, b, c, or e, the aliphatic amine was
quantitatively displaced within 2 h, as shown in eq 2. The
1
by NMR. H NMR (500 MHz, 300 K, D2O, referenced to 2-methyl-
2-propanol at 1.24 ppm as internal standard): δ ) 8.98 (s, 4 H, imine),
8.46 (d, J ) 8.2 Hz, 4 H, 4,7-phenanthroline), 8.20 (d, J ) 8.2 Hz, 4
H, 3,8-phenanthroline), 7.69 (s, 4 H, 5,6-phenanthroline), 6.92 (d, J )
8.3 Hz, 8 H, phenylene), 6.13 (d, J ) 8.3 Hz, 8 H, phenylene). 13C
NMR (125.77 MHz, 300 K, D2O, referenced to 2-methyl-2-propanol
at 30.29 ppm as internal standard): δ ) 159.5, 148.6, 146.7, 142.8,
140.8, 138.4, 133.1, 129.2, 127.5, 126.6, 121.8. ESI-MS: m/z ) -608.1
(12-), -384.7 (12- lacking one Cu+), -272.4 (metal-free imine ligand
of 12-).
difference in pKa values thus favored the displacement of the
protonated form of the weaker acid (aliphatic ammonium ion)
and the incorporation of the deprotonated form of the stronger
acid (sulfanilic acid) to form 12-
.
Conclusion
Synthesis of 22+(BF4-)2. Into an NMR tube with a Teflon screw
cap was added 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxaldehyde (0.0105 g,
0.0444 mmol), 2-aminoethanol (0.0054 g, 0.0884 mmol), copper(I)
tetrakis(acetonitrile) tetrafluoroborate (0.0139 g, 0.0442 mmol), and
deuterium oxide (0.5 mL). The tube’s atmosphere was purged of
dioxygen with three evacuation/argon purge cycles. Crystals began to
form spontaneously from the dark green solution after 1 h. No side
products were observed in the NMR spectra of this compound. 1H NMR
(400 MHz, 300 K, D2O, referenced to 2-methyl-2-propanol at 1.24 ppm
as internal standard; peak assignments are consistent with COSY and
NOESY spectra): δ ) 8.81 (d, J ) 8.2 Hz, 4 H, 4,7-phenanthroline),
8.66 (s, 4 H, imine), 8.24 (s, 4 H, 5,6-phenanthroline), 8.19 (d, J ) 8.2
Hz, 4 H, 3,8-phenanthroline), 3.19 (m, 4 H, NCH2CH2OH), 2.85 (m,
4 H, NCH2CH2OH), 2.52 (m, 4 H, NCH2CH2OH), 2.03 (m, 4 H, NCH2-
CH2OH). 13C NMR (100.62 MHz, 300 K, D2O, referenced to 2-methyl-
2-propanol at 30.29 ppm as internal standard): δ ) 163.4, 149.9, 141.8,
138.8, 133.2, 129.2, 126.7, 60.6, 60.5. ESI-MS: m/z ) 385.3 (22+),
707.2 (22+ lacking one Cu+).
In summary, we have developed a set of “selection rules”
granting a degree of control over the self-assembly and ligand-
component exchange of a set of bis-CuI double-helicate
complexes. These rules are based upon steric, charge, and
solvent effects, as well as upon pH. The use of water as a
reaction solvent has also been shown to be particularly advanta-
geous, which could be seen as counterintuitive for copper(I)/
imine based structures. In the present study water has allowed
for the synthesis of a wider range of structures, and elsewhere
it has been shown that more highly charged assemblies13,68 may
be generated in water than in other solvents. Water is also the
necessary solvent for interfacing metalloorganic species with
biological systems.69,70 The exploration and development of the
assembly and reassembly rules detailed herein are currently
allowing us to build up larger and more complex structures, as
well as to transform these structures using ligand-component
exchange.
Preparative Synthesis of Na+232-. The helicate complex Na+232-
Experimental Section
was obtained in 97% yield by the same procedure as used in the case
1
of 12-, using taurine in place of sulfanilic acid. H NMR (500 MHz,
All manipulations were carried out under argon or dinitrogen using
degassed solvents. Starting materials of the highest commercially
available purity were used as received; 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-
dicarboxaldehyde38 and 1-methyl-4-aminopyridinium triflate (amine h
in Chart 1)71 were prepared according to literature procedures.
NMR Studies of Helicate and Ligand Formation. For each of the
amines listed in Chart 1, amine a-h (0.050 mmol), 1,10-phenanthroline-
2,9-dicarboxaldehyde (0.025 mmol, 0.0066 g), and Cu(NCMe)4BF4
(0.025 mmol, 0.0079 g,) were loaded into an NMR tube with a Teflon
screw cap. Deuterium oxide or acetonitrile-d3 (0.5 mL) was then added,
and the tube’s atmosphere was purged of dioxygen with three
evacuation/argon purge cycles. The mixture was then sonicated until
all reagents dissolved, or for 12 h if dissolution was incomplete.
Experiments in which helicate formation was observed were repeated
without copper to determine the extent of ligand formation in its
absence.
300 K, D2O, referenced to 2-methyl-2-propanol at 1.24 ppm as internal
standard; peak assignments are consistent with COSY and NOESY
spectra): δ ) 8.84 (d, J ) 8.2 Hz, 4 H, 4,7-phenanthroline), 8.74 (s,
4 H, imine), 8.24 (s, 4 H, 5,6-phenanthroline), 8.22 (d, J ) 8.2 Hz, 4
H, 3,8-phenanthroline), 3.45 (m, 4 H, NCH2CH2S), 2.29 (m, 4 H, NCH2-
CH2S), 2.18 (m, 4 H, NCH2CH2S), 1.67 (m, 4 H, NCH2CH2S). 13C
NMR (125.77 MHz, 300 K, D2O, referenced to 2-methyl-2-propanol
at 30.29 ppm as internal standard): δ ) 163.5, 149.7, 141.6, 139.2,
133.8, 129.7, 127.1, 54.2, 50.6. ESI-MS: m/z ) -511.2 (32-), -224.4
(imine ligand of 32-).
X-ray Crystal Structure of 12-. Single crystals suitable for X-ray
diffraction were obtained through diffusion of an aqueous solution of
Na+212- into an aqueous solution of Ba(ClO4)2. [Cu2(C26H12N4O6S2)2]2-
‚
(ClO4-)2‚Ba2+2‚(H2O)13; Mr ) 1924.1; µ ) 2.062 mm-1, dx ) 1.882
g‚cm-3, monoclinic, P21/c, Z ) 4, a ) 18.6339(16), b ) 25.6027(14),
c ) 14.4414(11) Å, â ) 99.762(10)°, U ) 6798.9(9) Å3. Cell
dimensions and intensities were measured at 200 K on a Stoe IPDS
diffractometer with graphite-monochromated Mo KR radiation (λ )
0.710 73 Å), 48 564 measured reflections, 13 136 unique reflections
of which 8088 were observable (|Fo| > 4 σ (Fo)); Rint for 34 786
equivalent reflections 0.060. Data were corrected for Lorentz and
polarization effects and for absorption (Tmin, Tmax ) 0.5868, 0.8933).
(68) Bennett, M. V.; Beauvais, L. G.; Shores, M. P.; Long, J. R. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 2001, 123, 8022-8032.
(69) Meistermann, I.; Moreno, V.; Prieto, M. J.; Moldrheim, E.; Sletten, E.;
Khalid, S.; Rodger, P. M.; Peberdy, J. C.; Isaac, C. J.; Rodger, A.; Hannon,
M. J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2002, 99, 5069-5074.
(70) Junicke, H.; Hart, J. R.; Kisko, J.; Glebov, O.; Kirsch, I. R.; Barton, J. K.
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 2003, 100, 3737-3742.
(71) Abbotto, A.; Bradamante, S.; Pagani, G. A. J. Org. Chem. 2001, 66, 8883-
8892.
9
16542 J. AM. CHEM. SOC. VOL. 126, NO. 50, 2004