Supramolecular reactions of metallo-architectures: Ag2-double-helicate/Zn4-grid, Pb4-grid/Zn4-grid interconversions, and Ag2-double-helicate fusion

Supramolecular reactions are of importance in many fields. We report herein three examples where complexes of hydrazone-based ligands are involved. A Ag-2-double-helicate was converted, by treatment with Zn(OTf)(2), into a Zn-4-grid (exchange of metal ions and change of the nature of the initial complex). A Pb-4-grid was converted, upon reaction with ZnCl2 or ZnBr2, into a Zn-4-grid (exchange of metal ions, but conservation of the nature of the initial complex). The reverse conversions were also achieved. The fusion of a Ag-2-double-helicate with another Ag-2-double-helicate was performed (exchange of ligands, but conservation of the nature of the complexes) and resulted in a mixture of three helicates (two homostranded ones and one heterostranded one).