Supramolecular Assemblies of Dinuclear Alkynylplatinum(II) Terpyridine Complexes with Double-Decker Silsesquioxane Nano-Cores: The Role of Isomerism in Constructing Nano-Structures

Abstract

Analytically pure cis-/trans- isomers of double-decker silsesquioxane-functionalized dinuclear alkynylplatinum(II) terpyridine complexes have been isolated, with their isomeric identities being confirmed via x-ray crystallographic study. The effects of stereo-configuration on the self-association behavior have been systematically explored. The complexes demonstrate self-association properties via the stabilization of hydrophobic–hydrophobic, Pt···Pt and/or π–π stacking interactions. These supramolecular architectures and molecular packings are found to be closely related to the isomeric configurations of the complexes. The difference in aggregation behaviors of the stereoisomers of double-decker silsesquioxanes has provided insights into the assembly properties of this class of stereoisomers. The modulations of Pt···Pt and/or π–π stacking interactions in controlling the aggregation have also been demonstrated through regulating the solvent compositions. Such gradual changes in degree of aggregation have been employed for the construction of helical ribbons and nanotube scaffolds, which have been investigated using various spectroscopic studies.1 Reference: 1. Au-Yeung, H.-L.; Leung, S. Y.-L.; Yam, V. W.-W. Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 4128.