Chiral macrocyclic terpyridine complexes

Abstract

The syntheses of novel chiral M(ii) bis(terpyridine) cage complexes Fe(L1)2-c and Ru(L1)2-c are described. The extraordinary design of the precursors Fe(L1)2 and Ru(L1)2 allows perfect preorganization for the final closing step. Due to the rigidity of the spacers between the two terpyridine moieties, the two isolated enantiomers barely racemize at room temperature in solution. The stable and axially chiral bis(terpyridine) Fe(ii) and Ru(ii) complexes were fully characterized by NMR-spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, electrochemical measurements, high resolution mass spectrometry, circular dichroism measurements, and X-ray structural analysis.