A series of tetranuclear metal complexes of grid-type consisting of four bis-tridentate ligands and four divalent transition metal ions were synthesized and characterized. The 1H NMR spectra of diamagnetic complexes containing Zn(II), Cd(II), Fe(II), and Ru(II) was correlated to the radius of the metal ion. The UVvis and electrochemical results indicated that the bridging ligand π* orbital and the dπ metal orbital are stabilized by complexation of more than one metal ion. Furthermore, the Co(II) and Fe(II) grids exhibit metalmetal interaction mediated by the bis-tridentate ligands as indicated by electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. These results provide guidelines for the design of larger grids bearing several metal centres in a square arrangement, which also represent potential components of molecular electronic devices.Key words: complexes with nitrogen ligands, octahedral metal ions, self-assembly, supramolecular chemistry.
Oligo-tridentate ligands based on alternating pyridines and pyrimidines were synthesised by Stille-type carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions. The terpyridine-like sites are designed to coalign upon metal complexation, giving rise to organized and rigidly spaced metal ions. Peripheral functionalization of the basic bis-tridentate framework was explored. The heterocycles in the ligands are in an all-trans conformation about the interannular bonds as indicated by comparison of their 1H NMR spectra. An X-ray crystal structure analysis of the nonchiral tris-tridentate ligand 2a reveals a helical structure in the solid state. The seven heterocycles form a helical structure with resulting overlap of the terminal pyridines. Their centroid-to-centroid distance is 4.523 Å with 38.8° between the planes. NMR investigations support a helical conformation in solution as well. Electrochemical and UV absorption measurements indicate that the LUMO resides on the pyrimidine moiety of the ligands. Keywords: nitrogen-containing ligands, Stille coupling, helical structure, supramolecular chemistry.