Efficient long-range stereochemical communication and cooperative effects in self-assembled Fe <inf>4</inf>L <inf>6</inf> cages

Abstract

A series of large, optically active Fe 4L 6 cages was prepared from linear 5,5′-bis(2-formylpyridines) incorporating varying numbers (n = 0-3) of oligo-p-xylene spacers, chiral amines, and Fe II. When a cage was constructed from the ligand bridged by one p-xylene spacer (n = 1) and a bulky chiral amine, both a homochiral Fe 2L 3 helicate and Fe 4L 6 cage were observed to coexist in solution due to a delicate balance between steric factors. In contrast, when a less bulky chiral amine was used, only the Fe 4L 6 cage was observed. In the case of larger cages (n = 2, 3), long-range (>2 nm) stereochemical coupling between metal centers was observed, which was minimally diminished as the ligands were lengthened. This communication was mediated by the ligands geometries and rigidity, as opposed to gearing effects between xylene methyl groups: the metal-centered stereochemistry was not observed to affect the axial stereochemistry of the ligands. © 2012 American Chemical Society.