Structural analysis of a dimeric trinuclear zinc(II) complex based on a preorganized yet flexible strap porphyrin

Abstract

We report the solid-state structure of an unexpected trinuclear zinc dimeric porphyrin complex resulting of zinc insertion into a single strap porphyrin. The latter bears an overhanging carboxylic acid which usually interacts with metal cations either in out-of-plane (OOP) or in hanging-atop (HAT) coordination mode by changing its location above the porphyrin coordination site. However, in the present studies, the overhanging carboxylic group acts as a bidentate ligand and binds the OOP-bound zinc cation together with another zinc cation bridging two porphyrin units.