title: Helicate extension as a route to molecular wires.
abstract: We describe the preparation of a helicate containing four closely spaced, linearly arrayed copper(I) ions. This product may be prepared either directly by mixing copper(I) with a set of precursor amine and aldehyde subcomponents, or indirectly through the dimerization of a dicopper(I) helicate upon addition of 1,2-phenylenediamine. A notable feature of this helicate is that its length is not limited by the lengths of its precursor subcomponents: each of the two ligands wrapped around the four copper(I) centers contains one diamine, two dialdehyde, and two monoamine residues. This work thus paves the way for the preparation of longer oligo- and polymeric structures. DFT calculations and electrochemical measurements indicate a high degree of electronic delocalization among the metal ions forming the cores of the structures described herein, which may therefore be described as "molecular wires".
authors.affiliation: Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Geneva, 30 Quai Ernest-Ansermet, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schultz
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biaso
authors.forename: Abdul Rehaman Moughal
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shahi
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geoffroy
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rissanen
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nitschke