Potassium Binding Adjacent to Cationic Transition-Metal Fragments: Unusual Heterobimetallic Adducts of a Calix[4]arene-Based Thione Ligand.

The synthesis of cationic rhodium and iridium complexes of a bis(imidazole-2-thione)-functionalized calix[4]arene ligand and their surprising capacity for potassium binding are described. In both cases, uptake of the alkali metal into the calix[4]arene cavity occurs despite adverse electrostatic interactions associated with close proximity to the transition-metal fragment [Rh+···K+ = 3.715(1) Å; Ir+···K+ = 3.690(1) Å]. The formation and constituent bonding of these unusual heterobimetallic adducts have been interrogated through extensive solution and solid-state characterization, examination of the host-guest chemistry of the ligand and its upper-rim unfunctionalized calix[4]arene analogue, and use of density functional theory based energy decomposition analysis.