Open AccessSelf-assembly of metalla[3]catenanes, Borromean rings and ring-in-ring complexes using a simple π-donor unit
Author(s) -
Ye Lu,
Dong Liu,
YueJian Lin,
Zhenhua Li,
GuoXin Jin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
national science review/national science review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.433
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 2095-5138
pISSN - 2053-714X
DOI - 10.1093/nsr/nwaa164
Subject(s) - catenane , ring (chemistry) , cationic polymerization , unit (ring theory) , chemistry , simple ring , stereochemistry , crystallography , homogeneous , molecule , physics , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , mathematics , pure mathematics , principal ideal ring , mathematics education , commutative ring , commutative property , thermodynamics
Despite extensive research and several stunning breakthroughs in the synthesis of interlocked molecular species, [3]catenanes, Borromean rings and ring-in-ring complexes are exceedingly rare and their targeted synthesis remains a formidable challenge. Herein, a series of Cp * Rh-based homogeneous and heterogeneous interlocked structures have been prepared by coordination-driven self-assembly, not only including metalla[2]catenanes and molecular Borromean rings, but also linear metalla[3]catenanes and ring-in-ring complexes. The interlocked structures are all based on bithiophenyl groups. The bithiophenyl groups effectively enhance the strength of the inter-ring interactions and play a crucial role in the formation of these interlocked structures. By taking advantage of the strong interaction between π-donor ( D ) and π-acceptor ( A ) groups, the electron-deficient methylviologen cation was introduced into a cationic metallarectangle based on bithiophenyl groups. Taking inspiration from these results, a cationic metallarectangle based on A units was threaded into a metallarectangle based on D units, leading to a heterogeneous D - A ring-in-ring structure.