Template synthesis and X-ray structure of the tris-glyoximate iron(II) clathrochelates with terminal reactive groups

Template condensation of glyoxime with functionalized phenylboronic acids on an iron(II) ion as a matrix afforded 3- and 4-substituted phenylboron-capped tris-glyoximate iron(II) clathrochelates with terminal amine, formyl (acetal) and vinyl groups. Their macrobicyclic molecules contain no bulky ribbed substituents and, therefore, have large ligand aspect ratio. [Display omitted] •Iron(II) tris-glyoximate clathrochelates with terminal reactive groups were synthesized.•The acetal-terminated iron(II) cage complexes underwent H+-catalyzed hydrolysis.•Macrobicyclic tris-glyoximates with terminal groups have large ligand aspect ratio. One-pot template condensation of glyoxime with the corresponding functionalized phenylboronic acids on an iron(II) ion as a matrix afforded 3- and 4-substituted phenylboron-capped tris-glyoximate iron(II) clathrochelates with terminal amine, formyl (acetal) and vinyl groups; those with acetal groups were converted into the formyl-terminated cage complexes using H+-catalyzed hydrolysis. The complexes obtained were characterized using elemental analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, IR, UV–Vis, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and by single crystal X-ray diffraction (for three of these clathrochelates). Their molecules possess a geometry intermediate between a trigonal prism (TP) and a trigonal antiprism (TAP) and the bite angles α remain almost constant being in the range 77–79°, whereas the heights h of FeN6-coordination polyhedra depend on the distortion angle φ values (from 12.2 to 20.7°) thus being in the range 2.36–2.37Å. An encapsulated iron(II) ion is situated almost in the centre of cage frameworks and the average chelate CC bonds in these tris-glyoximate frameworks are substantially shorter than those for their aliphatic and aromatic analogs. The crystal packings are governed by weak supramolecular hydrophobic interactions and an absence of the steric hindrances between the ribbed substituents (hydrogen atoms) allowed to form intermolecular π…π interactions. As follows from single crystal X-ray diffraction data, the synthesized macrobicyclic tris-glyoximates with reactive terminal groups, which the macrobicyclic molecules contain no bulky ribbed substituents, have large ligand aspect ratio and, therefore, they seem to be promising syntones and building blocks for preparation of covalent (including imine and amine) and coordination metallomacrocycles, MOFs and cages (capsules) with big voids and cavities as hosts, suitable fo