Monomeric, oligomeric, and polymeric copper(II) complexes of calix[4]arene-derived ligands

Deprotonation of the p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene disubstituted at alternate phenolic positions with picolyl groups 2 was achieved with alkali metal hydrides LiH, NaH, and KH. The dianionic calixarene derivatives were subjected to complete substitution at the phenolic rim with allyl bromide, providing the tetraalkylated derivatives in cone 3a and partial-cone conformations 3b; both compounds were crystallographically characterized. Compound 2, as well as 3a and 3b were tested as ligands towards CuCl₂, affording Cu²⁺ complexes in the first two cases. Polymeric [2·CuCl₂] was obtained from 2 and CuCl₂ in MeOH/CH₂Cl₂ solutions, and consists of chains of the ditopic calixarene acting as an N-donor towards Cu²⁺ ions outside the macrocyclic cavity. Employment of EtOH/CH₂Cl₂ mixtures results in the tricopper complex [(2)₂Cu₃Cl₆(EtOH)₂]. In contrast, reactions of ligand 3a with CuCl₂ afforded monomeric [3a·CuCl₂], while no Cu²⁺ complexes could be obtained when 3b was employed. The presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in 2 appears to control the formation of oligomeric or polymeric copper complexes, while the lack of such hydrogen bonds allows the proper alignment of N-donors to coordinate Cu²⁺ directly above the macrocyclic cavity.