Regularities of the formation of binuclear homo- and heteroleptic complexes of d metals with 3,3′-bis(dipyrrolylmethenes) in DMF

The reactions of seven symmetrically alkylated tetradentate ligands 3,3′-bis(dipyrrolylmethenes) (H2L) with d-metal acetates (M(AcO)2) in DMF solutions at 298.15 K were studied by spectrophotometry. Helicands H2L were found to be structurally preorganized to form stable binuclear homoleptic two-helix helicates [M2L2] with Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) acetates. The coordination of the ligands by the metal ions included consecutive stages of formation of the heteroleptic [M2L(AcO)2] and homoleptic [M2L2] complexes. The [M2L(AcO)2] complexes were spectrally revealed in solutions containing a ligand excess (c H 2 L / c M(AcO) 2 > 1). An increase in the salt concentration shifted the system of equilibria to the homoligand product [M2L2]. The thermodynamic constants of the reactions increased in the series of complexing agents: Cu(II) < Cd(II) < Hg(II) < Ni(II) < Co(II) < Zn(II). An analysis of the data on the thermodynamic constants of [M2L2] helicate formation in solutions and the earlier obtained results of the IR and 1H NMR studies of the hydrobromic salts of the ligands (H2L · 2HBr) showed that the key regularities of the influence of the structural factors on the coordination properties of the ligands were in an increase in the stability of the [M2L2] complexes with an increase in the basicity of the ligands.