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A series of selectively self-assembled metallo-supramolecular square-like macrocycles with unsymmetric ditopic linkers and two different types of metal corners, i.e., {Pd(η 3 -2-Me-C 3 H 4 )} and {M(dppp)} with dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane and M = Pd 2+ or Pt 2+ , have been studied in the gas phase using collision-induced dissociation. The aggregates show distinct fragmentation patterns determined by ligand length, i.e, aggregate size, and type of metal corner. Information on relative binding strength can be deduced. This is of particular interest for (methylallyl)Pd as a relatively new building block in metallo-supramolecular chemistry. The phosphane end of the unsymmetric ligand connected to (η 3 -2-Me-C 3 H 4 )Pd is bound significantly stronger than its pyridine end to (dppp)Pt and (dppp)Pd. These results are corroborated by DFT calculations.

A simple approach toward preparation of heteroleptic two-dimensional (2D) rectangles and three-dimensional (3D) triangular prisms is described utilizing the HETPYP (HETeroleptic PYridyl and Phenanthroline metal complexes) concept. By mixing metal-loaded linear bisphenanthrolines of varying lengths with diverse (multi)pyridine (py) ligands in a proper ratio, six different self-assembled architectures arise cleanly and spontaneously in the absence of any template. They are characterized by (1)H and DOSY NMR, ESI-FT-ICR mass spectrometry as well as by Job plots and UV-vis titrations. Density functional theory (DFT) computations provide information about each structure. A stoichiometry-controlled supramolecule-to-supramolecule interconversion based on the relative amounts of metal bisphenanthroline and bipyridine forces the rectangular assembly to reorganize to a rack architecture and back to the rectangle, as clearly supported by variable temperature and DOSY NMR as well as dynamic light scattering data. The highly dynamic nature of the assemblies represents a promising starting point for constitutional dynamic materials.

A stoichiometric variant of the HETPYP concept (HETeroleptic PYridine and Phenanthroline metal complexes) opens the venue to heteroleptic metallosupramolecular HETPYP-I assemblies both in solution and the solid state, involving the trigonal [Cu(phenAr(2))(py)](+) coordination motif (phenAr(2) = 2,9-diarylphenanthroline; py = various oligopyridines). Combining the same building blocks at another stoichiometric ratio furnished metallosupramolecular HETPYP-II aggregates in the solid state, now based on the tetrahedral [Cu(phenAr(2))(py)(2)](+) coordination motif. Thus, a stoichiometry-controlled structural changeover based on the relative amounts of oligopyridines leads from a discrete assembly with trigonally coordinated copper(I) centers to a coordination polymer with tetrahedrally coordinated copper(I) ions, as shown by solid state studies. In solution, the analysis of both stoichiometric variants indicates that the HETPYP-I structure is congruent with that in the solid state, while the HETPYP-II assembly, as established through DOSY NMR and dynamic light scattering measurements, is only oligomeric at low temperature. At room temperature, i.e. due to entropic costs, the latter assembly prefers to keep "unsaturated" coordination sites that are in rapid exchange, making it an interesting system as a dynamic protecting group and for constitutional dynamic materials through the exchange and reshuffling of components.