Molecular recognition by multiple metal coordination inside wavy-stacked macrocycles

August 2, 2021

Title

Molecular recognition by multiple metal coordination inside wavy-stacked macrocycles

Author

Takashi Nakamura

Year

2021

Journal

Nature Communications

Abstract

Most biological and synthetic receptors for small organic molecules employ a combination of relatively weak intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonds. A host compound that utilizes stronger yet reversible bonding in a synergistic manner could realize precise recognition, but the regulation and spatial arrangement of such reactive interaction moieties have been a challenge. Here, we show a multinuclear zinc complex synthesized from a macrocyclic ligand hexapap, which inwardly arranges labile metal coordination sites for external molecules. The metallomacrocycle forms a unique wavy-stacked structure upon binding a suitable length of dicarboxylic acids via multipoint coordination bonding. The saddle-shaped deformation and dimerization realize the differentiation of the interaction moieties, and change of guest-binding modes at specific metal coordination sites among the many present have been achieved utilizing acid/base as external stimuli.

Instrument

V-670, FP-8600, FT/IR-480plus

Keywords

metallomacrocycle, ligand, hexapap,