Self-Assembly of a Redox Active, Metallosupramolecular [Pd3L6]6+ Complex Using a Rotationally Flexible Ferrocene Ligand

Abstract

A new ferrocene-containing [Pd3(L4EFc)6]6+(X−)6 (C ⋅ BF4 and C ⋅ SbF6 where X=BF4− or SbF6−) self-assembled double-walled triangle has been synthesized from the known, rotationally flexible, 1,1′-bis(4-pyridylethynyl)ferrocene ligand (L4EFc), and characterized by 1H, 13C and diffusion ordered (DOSY) NMR spectroscopies, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR−ESI−MS), X-ray crystallography and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The molecular structures confirmed that double-walled triangle cage systems (C ⋅ BF4 and C ⋅ SbF6) were generated. C ⋅ BF4 was shown to interact with the anionic guest, p-toluenesulfonate. CV experiments revealed that the triangles were redox active, however addition of the guest did not influence the redox potentials.