Dimerization of Dendrimeric Lanthanide Complexes: Thermodynamic, Thermal, and Liquid-Crystalline Properties

A series of 10 different mesomorphic semidendrimeric tridentate ligands L5-L14 grafted with terminal cyanobiphenyl groups have been synthesized. Upon reaction with Ln(NO3)(3) (Ln = trivalent lanthanide), the central 2,6-bis(N-ethylbenzimidazol-2-yl)pyridine unit is meridionally tricoordinated to the metal to give rodlike monomeric [Ln(Lk)(NO3)(3)] and H-shaped dimeric [Ln(2)(Lk)(2)(NO3)(6)] complexes. For the small Lull' cation, the monomeric complexes are quantitatively formed in a noncoordinating CD2Cl2 solution, For larger cations (Ln = Eu, Pr), the thermodynamic equilibrium 2[Ln(Lk)(NO3)(3)] [Ln(2)(Lk)(2)(NO3)(6)] can be evidenced across the complete ligand series. Detailed thermodynamic studies show that the dimeric complexes result from the formation of primary intermetallic nitrate bridges whose strength depends on the metallic size. For each complex, secondary nonspecific interstrand van der Waals interactions produce nonartifactual enthalpy/entropy compensation. In the absence of solvent, only the complexes with the most extended ligands L5 and L6 produce thermotropic mesophases. Layered organizations are dominant (smectic A) with the induction of nematogenic behavior at high temperature when interstrand interactions are modulated by methyl substitutions. Correlations between the trend of dimerization and the sequences of thermotropic mesophases are attempted.

Mécanismes d'isomérisation et d'échange de ligand de complexes octaédriques labiles de cobalt (II)

Fabrice Riblet

There are only few structural thermodynamic and kinetic studies on labile octahedral complexes available today. Octahedral paramagnetic compounds of cobalt(II) have an optimum electronic relaxation leading to NMR spectra with good resolution. Therefore, they are excellent candidates to follow substitution and isomerisation processes by multinuclear NMR at variable pressure and temperature. This work groups the study of nine labile complexes (three families of compounds with three examples each) which can exist in different isomeric forms. The first part of the work concerns octahedral complexes with bis-chelating ligands of the general formula [Co(LA)2Rpy2] with LA being a bidentate acetylacetonate ligand and Rpy a monodentate ligand of the γ-substituted pyridine type. The second part of the work concerns octahedral complexes with tris-chelating ligands of the general [Co(LA)2(LB)] with LA being a bidentate acetylacetonate ligand and LB a bidentate ligand of the γ-substituted bipyridine type. The third part of the work concerns trinuclear heterometallic complexes with the general formula [Fe2M(μ3-O)(μ2-Ac)6(Rpy)3] with M = CoII, NiII and Rpy a monodentate ligand of the γ-substituted pyridine type. Each type of the metal centres has an octahedral geometry. For each example chosen, the different species present in equilibrium in solution have been identified and the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters measured are discussed. Mechanisms for isomerisation and ligand exchange are proposed on the basis of variable temperature and pressure kinetics data. It has been shown that the bis-chelate compounds isomerise via a dissociative mechanism (with an intermediate of bipyramid geometry). The monodentate ligand participates more or less depending on its donor character. In the case of complexes with γ-methylpyridine, the mechanism consists essentially of an opening of one arm of the bidentate ligand (with little exchange of the pyridine). However, in the case of complexes with γ-trifluoromethylpyridine, a more frequent exchange of the monodentate ligand is observed competing with the opening of the arm of the bidentate ligand. In the case of tris-chelate compounds the isomerisation mechanism proposed on the bases of the exchange matrix used for spectral simulations is a twist with an intermediate of prismatic geometry. This observed rates (faster) and the obtained activation parameters (smaller) are very different of those found for complexes with bis-chelating ligands. The trinuclear heterometallic complexes maintain their structure in dichloromethane solution. Variable pressure experiments allowed assigning a dissociative mechanism (D) for the exchange of pyridine on both the divalent and the trivalent centres. Experiments at variable temperature indicated an increase of lability for the trivalent metals and a decrease in lability for the divalent metals compared to the homoleptic octahedral mononuclear complexes. The activation parameters for the trinuclear heterometallic complexes are bigger than those found for the bis- and tris-chelate compounds.

EPFL2007

Enantiopure helical (supra)molecular arrays containing lanthanides

Marco Antonio Lama

The diastereoselective synthesis of chiral coordination compounds with d metals proved the effectiveness of the pinene-bipyridine approach in predetermining the chirality at the metal centre. The strong Lewis acidic character of lanthanide cations required the modification of this class of ligands in order to adapt their coordination properties to the binding affinity of Ln(III) toward hard donor atoms like oxygen. The pinene bipyridine carboxylic derivative (+)-L- (figure 1) has been designed and synthesized to form configurationally stable lanthanide complexes. This ligand proved its effectiveness as chiral building block for the synthesis of oligometallic supramolecular structures. Indeed a self-assembly process takes place with complete diastereoselectivity between the enantiomerically pure (-) or (+) L- and Ln(III) ions (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er) in methanol, giving rise to trinuclear enantiopure structures with general formula Ln3(L)6(µ3-OH)(H2O)32 , possessing predetermined helical chirality. The ligands in this case display a new version of supramolecular helical chirality since they are wrapping around a trimetallic core instead of one single metal centre. The same components afford a second polynuclear structure if the reaction is carried out in CH3CN. In this medium a three-dimensional tetranuclear array self-assembles (with general formula Ln4(L)9(µ3-OH)2). The nine ligands are forming three distinct helical domains, two supramolecular as in the case of the trinuclear array and one classical around a single metal centre, with predetermined configuration. The two classes of compounds have been structurally characterized in solid state (X-ray and IR) and in solution (ES-MS, NMR). Their chiroptical properties were investigated by means of Circular Dichroism and Circularly Polarized Luminescence (for the emitting compounds). Trinuclear and tetranuclear arrays are shown to interconvert in CH3CN, in a process mediated by water. This process was rationalized taking into account the nature of the Ln(III) ions, the initial concentration of the components and the addition or removal of water in solution. The availability of both the enantiomers of the ligand prompted us to study the self-recognition capabilities of the two systems. 1H-NMR and CD studies reveal an almost complete chiral recognition in the self-assembly leading to the trinuclear complex. The process leading to tetranuclear species appears instead perturbed, probably due to the higher number of fundamental components involved (4 metals and 9 ligands instead of 3 metals and 6 ligands). Figure 1: Reaction conditions leading to the synthesis of trinuclear and tetranuclear Ln(III) complexes with ligand (+)-L-. The introduction of a carboxylic moiety onto the 6' posititon of the (-)-5,6- and (-)-4,5- pinene bipyridine lead to the tridentate ligands (-)-HL1 and (-)-HL2, respectively. Mononuclear neutral complexes are obtained upon reaction with Ln(ClO4)3. Different extents of diastereoselectivity are pointed out in the two systems by X-ray analysis and CD spectroscopy. In particular the ligand (-)-HL1, in which the pinene moiety is next to the binding site, seems to be more effective in predetermining the configuration at the metal centre. A low diastereoselectivity is instead expressed in the reactions with (-)-HL2 as revealed by the X-ray structure of [Pr{(-)-L2}3] (both Δ and Λ isomers detected) and by the CD spectrum void of signal.

EPFL2006

Thermodynamic Parameters Governing the Self-Assembly of Head–Head–Head Lanthanide Bimetallic Helicates

Jean-Claude Bünzli, Thomas Binderup Jensen, Rosario Scopelliti

Abstract: The heterobitopic ligands LABX (X=1,2, 3,4 or 5),diff ering only by a Cl or NEt2 substituent,have been designed to complex with a pair of lanthanide ions to form triple-stranded bimetallic helicates of overall composition [Ln2ACHTUNGTRENUNG(LABX)3]6+. The percentage of HHH (head–head–head) isomer,in which each of the three ligand strands coordinates to the same lanthanide ion with the same coordination unit,is deciding the ability of the ligands to selectively form heterobimetallic complexes containing one luminescent and one magnetic or two different luminescent ions. It deviates significantly from the statistical value of 25% and ranges from 6–20% for LAB2 complexes to 93–96% for LAB4 complexes. The equilibrium between HHT (head–head–tail) and HHH isomers has been investigated in detail for homobimetallic helicates (Ln=Y,La,Ce , Pr, Nd,Sm,Eu,Lu) by means of variable temperature NMR and thermodynamic parameters have been determined. The equilibrium is characterized by small values of DH and DS,whic h vary in opposite direction along the lanthanide series for complexes with the same ligand in a way that keeps the value of DG almost constant. The results are interpreted in terms of differences in interstrand stacking,ion–dip ole interactions and metal–metal repulsion.