Self-Assembled Supramolecular Squares from Chiral [4,4’]-Bipyridines and Mass Spectrometric Investigations of Oligothiophene-Based Catenates and Catenanes

Abstract

<em>Self-Assembled Supramolecular Squares from Chiral [4,4']-Bipyridines</em><br /> Self-Assembled Supramolecular Squares are synthesised from two different building blocks: Bidentate metal complexes (90°, palladium and platinum) and bidentate organic ligands (180°, [4,4']-bipyridines). In principle, 560 isomers can be formed, when dissymmetrical ligands are used (symmetry reduction). In this thesis, amino acid decorated [4,4']-bipyridines and axially chiral [4,4']-bipyridines were synthesised and used in self assembly reactions, to yield only <em>one</em> out of theses 560 isomers. <br /><em>Mass Spectrometric Investigations of Oligothiophene-Based Catenates and Catenanes</em><br /> α-Conjugated macrocyclic oligothiophenes have shown intriguing electronic and selfassembling properties as a result of their circular structure. Evidence for their interlocked structures comes from NMR spectroscopy as well as tandem mass spectrometry. These mass spectrometric investigations are presented herein. Platinum containing a-conjugated macrocyclic oligothiophenes show reductive elimination of metal complexes in the highly diluted gas phase.