title: The HETTAP approach: self-assembly and metal ion sensing of dumbbell-shaped molecules and clip molecules.
abstract: The pentacoordinated terpyridine-phenanthroline zinc(II) complex motif, conceived along the HETTAP concept, allows the preparation of a set of multicomponent supramolecular dumbbell and clip assemblies from various bisterpyridines. All assemblies show a notable luminescence at 350-400 nm. The formation of dumbbell [Zn2(1b)2(2b)]4+ is convincingly demonstrated from the X-ray crystal structure analysis. Both dumbbell [Zn2(1b)2(2b)]4+ and clip [Zn2(1d)(2b)]4+ allow the monitoring of Hg2+ ions due to highly selective quenching of the emission that is driven by a Zn2+ --> Hg2+ exchange process, while the more-strained clip [Zn2(1d)(2c)]4+ does not undergo such metal exchange and does not show quenching of the luminescence. Consequently, these assemblies exhibit a highly selective response due solely to supramolecular effects.
authors.affiliation: Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and Engineering, Organische Chemie I, Universität Siegen, Adolf-Reichwein-Strasse 2, D-57068 Siegen, Germany. schmittel@chemie.uni-siegen.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmittel
authors.forename: Venkateshwarlu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalsani
authors.forename: Prasenjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mal
authors.forename: Jan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bats