Synthesis and characterization of supramolecular complexes of a tetranuclear metallocycle with platinum(II) bis-ethynylphenylethynylpyridine organometallic complexes

A novel Pt(II) organometallic complex with 4-(4-ethynyl-phenylethynyl)-pyridine (DEBPy-H), namely [Pt(dppp)(DEBPy)2] (dppp = 1,3-bis-(diphenylphosphino)-propane), has been prepared by two synthetic routes. The DEBPy-H ligand was prepared by a shorter synthetic pathway and in higher yield than the method of previous reports. New Pt(II) organometallic complexes with DEBPy-H and four bidentate ligands [Pt(L–L)(DEBPy)2] (L–L = 1,2-bis-(diphenylphosphino)-benzene, bis-(dicyclohexyl)-ethane, 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, or 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) have also been prepared. These five Pt(II) complexes have two pyridyl units as an available coordination site that can operate as a metalloligand in nanoscale tectonics. A supramolecular complex of a tetranuclear metallocycle, [Pt(dppp)(DEBPy)2]2[Pt(dppp)]2(OTf)4, was synthesized from [Pt(dppp)(DEBPy)2] and [Pt(dppp)(OTf)2] as a corner connection through coordination-driven self-assembly. This supramolecular Pt(II) complex exists as a tetranuclear structure of the square type according to the interpretation of the ESI-mass and NMR spectra in solution. Five Pt(II) organometallics demonstrated the formation of similar tetranuclear metallocycles with [Pt(dppp)(OTf)2], as indicated by their ESI-mass and UV–vis spectra in solution.