Metallo-Supramolecular Nanospheres via Hierarchical Self-Assembly

A novel coordination oligo/polymer is synthesized by metal-directed self-assembly from equimolar amounts of the (dppp)M(OTf)(2) precursor complexes (dppp = bis-(diphenylphosphino)-propane, OTf = triflate; M = Pd-II or M = Pt-II) and banana-shaped bidentate dipyridyl ligands. The assemblies were characterized by ESI mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The analysis of the cloudy suspension prepared by dissolving the coordination polymer in aqueous methanol solutions indicates nanosized spherical objects to form. Evidence for vesicle formation From these metallo-supramolecular oligomers comes from (cryogenic) transmission electron microscopy (TEM, cryo-TEM). Atomic force microscopy revealed stable nanospheres on hydrophilic mica and monolayer formation on hydrophobic highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) substrates. On mica, also torus-shaped object were observed. which are rationalized by vesicles that opened during the drying procedure and released the internal solvent. Elemental analysis of the nanoassemblies by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates uncoordinated and coordinated pyridines in the coordination polymers that form the nanospheres. Various control experiments using different metal centers and modified ligands support the conclusions.