Design and Self‐Assembly of Macrocycles with Metals at the Corners Based on Dissymmetric Terpyridine Ligands

Abstract

Terpyridine‐based discrete supramolecular architectures with metal ions at the corners have rarely been reported. Herein, we report two dissymmetric terpyridyl ligands LA and LB decorated at the 5‐position and 4‐position of terpyridine respectively. The complexes constructed by the self‐assembly of LA and LB with Zn(II) exhibit hand‐circle‐like structures. Moreover, all Zn(II) are successfully fixed in the corners. A series of dimeric to hexameric macrocycles is obtained by head‐to‐tail connections with changing concentration. This work will pave the way for preparation of more elaborate self‐assembled structures based on dissymetric ligands.