Synthesis and characterization of nitrogen-rich macrocyclic ligands and an investigation of their coordination chemistry with lanthanum(III).

Derivatives of the ligand 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) containing pendant N-heterocyclic donors were prepared. The heterocycles pyridine, pyridazine, pyrimidine, and pyrazine were conjugated to cyclen to give 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L(py)), 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(3-pyridazylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L(pyd)), 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(4-pyrimidylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L(pyr)), and 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-pyrazinylmethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (L(pz)), respectively. The coordination chemistry of these ligands was explored using the La(3+) ion. Accordingly, complexes of the general formula [La(L)(OTf)](OTf)2, where OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate and L = L(py) (1), L(pyd) (2), L(pyr) (3), and L(pz) (4), were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structures of 1 and 2 were also determined by X-ray diffraction studies, which revealed 9-coordinate capped, twisted square-antiprismatic coordination geometries for the central La(3+) ion. The conformational dynamics of 1-4 in solution were investigated by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy. Dynamic line-shape and Eyring analyses enabled the determination of the activation parameters for the interconversion of enantiomeric forms of the complexes. Unexpectedly, the different pendant N-heterocycles of 1-4 give rise to varying values for the enthalpies and entropies of activation for this process. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to investigate the mechanism of this enantiomeric interconversion. Computed activation parameters were consistent with those experimentally determined for 1 but differed somewhat from those of 2-4.