Research
Variable Ethylene-Bridged Bis(amidines) and Bis(amidinates): Hydrogen Bonding and Photoluminescence upon Deprotonation
Amidines are isolectronic N-analogs of carboxylic acids and esters that have attracted considerable attention
as building blocks for biomedical reagents, redox-switchable chromophores and fluorophores,
and also as versatile ligands in coordination chemistry.[1]
Tethered bis(amidines) remained underrepresented in the literature until they were rediscovered because of their striking similarity to bis(cyclopentadienyl) dianions that play a key role as ligand scaffolds of lanthanide and Group IV ansa metallocenes, which have revolutionized polymerization catalysis.[2] In particular, a series of alkylene- and arylene-linked bis(amidines) has been reported to serve as convenient ligands for alkali metal, lanthanide, Group IV metal complexes, and their related catalytic applications.[3]
We have recently reported on a series of new flexible tetra- and hexadentate ethylene-linked bis(amidines) that form versatile networks of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, as revealed by X-ray crystallography and IR spectroscopy (Figs. 1–3). [4],[5]
Tethered bis(amidines) remained underrepresented in the literature until they were rediscovered because of their striking similarity to bis(cyclopentadienyl) dianions that play a key role as ligand scaffolds of lanthanide and Group IV ansa metallocenes, which have revolutionized polymerization catalysis.[2] In particular, a series of alkylene- and arylene-linked bis(amidines) has been reported to serve as convenient ligands for alkali metal, lanthanide, Group IV metal complexes, and their related catalytic applications.[3]
We have recently reported on a series of new flexible tetra- and hexadentate ethylene-linked bis(amidines) that form versatile networks of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonds, as revealed by X-ray crystallography and IR spectroscopy (Figs. 1–3). [4],[5]
Figure 1. Ethylene-bridged N,N'-disubstituted bis(amidines) L1–9H2.
Figure 2. XRD molecular structures of L1H2, L2H2, L6H2, and L8H2.
Figure 3. A supramolecular solvent adduct: L2H2·4EtOH.
Combined experimental (1H NMR spectroscopy in different solvents) and computational studies (DFT, gas phase)
confirmed that hydrogen bonding for the less sterically crowded bis(amidine) L2H2 and all hexadentate congeners L5–9H2 is retained in solution. We also discovered that L1–9H2 become substantially emissive upon deprotonation through nBuLi (or NaN(SiMe3)2). Thus, L1–9H2 and their dianions represent a series of unprecedented photoluminescent bis(amidine)/bis(amidinate)
light switches.
Scheme 1. Deprotonation of bis(amidines); THF solution of [L5Li2] under exposure of UV light; steady-state emission spectra.
References
Novel Multinuclear Coinage Metal Cluster Arrays to Design Molecular Light-Emitting Devices
Linear multi-atom complexes of Group 11 metals (Cu, Ag, Au) exhibit fascinating luminescence
properties that make them highly interesting
1) for the systematic design of molecular wires in nanoelectronics
and
2) their application as light-emitting building blocks in organic light-emitting devices/diodes
(OLEDs) [1–3].
Since the light-emitting properties are specifically dependent on the number of metal
atoms, these complexes can directly be applied in new tailored OLEDs, particularly
in those that emit blue light – an urgent interest in the development of next-generation,
energy-saving light sources.[1],[2],[4] Previous methods to synthesize multi-atom complexes have shown that these compounds
are usually available in only low yields, as contaminated product mixtures, or they
are not accessible at all.
We have utilized a new synthetic method to incorporate CuI ions into a larger bis(amidinate) ligand framework L²¯ under ambient conditions and with excellent yields (Scheme 1).[5]
The star-shaped organometallic compound mesitylcopper, [CuMes]n (n = 4, 5),[6] is a clean source of copper ions, since it serves as deprotonating base itself and
produces only one volatile organic byproduct (mesitylene, MesH).
Scheme 1. Clean synthesis of [L2Cu4] from mesitylcopper.This new method allows us to control the size of (strictly linear or helically-bent)
copper chain complexes: If [L2Cu4] crystallizes from solution, it forms two different complexes 1 and 2 (Scheme 2), depending on how polar the solvent mixture is. Toluene/hexanes mixtures
yield both crystals of 1 and 2 simultaneously while more polar toluene/diethyl ether mixtures result in the exclusive
formation of 2. As revealed by X-ray crystallography, a method to determine a molecular structure
in the solid state, our new ligand L²¯ accommodates four copper atoms in a linear, coiling-like arrangement (1).
Complex 1 can adopt a higher-level organization that creates an even longer chain of six copper
atoms with two additional bridging central Cu(I) centers (2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest linear arrangement of Cu(I) ions
in a discrete molecule reported so far. An important criterion for a molecular wire
are the distances between the metal atoms: If they are, in case of copper, in the
magnitude of –or smaller than– 2.8 Å (the sum of two copper van der Waals radii),
then they undergo significant contact interactions.
Scheme 2. Formation of complexes 1 and 2 as crystalline solids from solution. Fluorescence images of crystals of 1 and 2. Molecular structures of 1 and 2, determined by X-ray crystallography.
1 and 2 can directly be applied in OLEDs, since the two distinct crystal morphologies show
blue (λmax = 460 nm; 1) and green (λmax = 495 nm; 2) light emissions (Scheme 2) in excellent singlet-to-triplet interconversions (a measure
how efficient an emissive material is) – these are outstanding features for direct
applications in OLEDs. Supported by computational calculations, we could demonstrate
that the increased number of contacts between copper atoms from 1 to 2 results in
the observed longer emission wavelength (so-called redshift).Overall, we have applied an efficient method to synthesize two unique, highly luminescent
multi-atom copper complexes that represent linear and coiling-like molecular wires.
Both compounds are excellent candidates for applications in OLEDs and prospective
multifunctional nanoelectronic devices. Our current research projects are also concerned
with new bis(amidinate) complexes of the heavier coinage metals (Ag and Au).
References
[1] a) Yersin, H., Ed. Highly Efficient OLEDs with Phosphorescent Materials; Wiley-VCH: Weinheim, Germany, 2008. b) Yersin, H.; Rausch, A. F.; Czerwieniec,
R.; Hofbeck, T.; Fischer, T. Coord. Chem. Rev. 2011, 255, 2622–2652.
[2] Stollenz, M. Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 4274–4298.
[3] Yam, V. W.-W.; Au, V. K.-M.; Leung, S. Y.-L. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 7589–7728.
[4] Sasabe, H.; Kido, J. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2013, 7653–7663.
[5] Stollenz, M.; Raymond, J. E.; Pérez, L. M.; Wiederkehr, J.; Bhuvanesh, N. Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22,
[2] Stollenz, M. Chem. Eur. J. 2019, 25, 4274–4298.
[3] Yam, V. W.-W.; Au, V. K.-M.; Leung, S. Y.-L. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 7589–7728.
[4] Sasabe, H.; Kido, J. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2013, 7653–7663.
[5] Stollenz, M.; Raymond, J. E.; Pérez, L. M.; Wiederkehr, J.; Bhuvanesh, N. Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22,
2396–2405.
[6] Stollenz, M.; Meyer, F. Organometallics 2012, 31, 7708–7727.
[6] Stollenz, M.; Meyer, F. Organometallics 2012, 31, 7708–7727.
Last update: 06/09/2020
