Steric influence and controlled dynamic process in a chiral square planar nickel(II) complex supported by a dipyrromethane-based NNNN tetradentate ligand.

The equimolar reaction between 1,9-bis(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)-5,5′-diphenyldipyrromethane, H2L1 or 1,9-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolylmethyl)-5,5′-diethyldipyrromethane, H2L2 and [NiCl2(DME)] in the presence of KH yielded the neutral mononuclear nickel(II) complexes [Ni(L1)-κ4N,N,N,N], 1 and [Ni(L2)-κ4N,N,N,N], 2, respectively. Their X-ray structures revealed the formation of triple chelation by the ligand in both structures with quite different nickel(II)-surrounded square planar geometries owing to the steric difference between –NMe2 and 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl groups. While the –NMe2 group substituted ligand L1 afforded nickel complex 1 with a plane of symmetry, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole substituted L2 rendered helical chirality in the structure of complex 2. Both the enantiomers (Δ and Λ) of complex 2 were observed in the crystal lattice. Their solution state behaviors were consistent with the solid-state structures as monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Both the enantiomers of complex 2 were present in a dynamic equilibrium in solution and studied by variable temperature 1H NMR spectroscopy. Similar to the chiral complex, the corresponding ligand H2L2 also exhibited chirality as shown by its crystal structure and the two ligand enantiomers participated in a very fast dynamic interconversion, which became slower upon metalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]