Synthesis, X-ray, and Spectroscopic Study of Dissymmetric Tetrahedral Zinc(II) Complexes from Chiral Schiff Base Naphthaldiminate Ligands with Apparent Exception to the ECD Exciton Chirality

Abstract

Bidentate enantiopure Schiff base ligands, (R or S)-N-1-(Ar)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminate (R- or S-N^O), diastereoselectively provide Λ- or Δ-chiral-at-metal four-coordinated Zn(R- or S-N^O)2 {Ar = C6H5; Zn-1R or Zn-1S and p-C6H4OMe; Zn-2R or Zn-2S}. Two R- or S-N^O-chelate ligands coordinate to the zinc(II) in a tetrahedral mode and induce Λ- or Δ-configuration at the zinc metal center. In the solid state, the R- or S-ligand diastereoselectively gives Λ- or Δ-Zn configuration, respectively, and forms enantiopure crystals. Single crystal structure determinations show two symmetry-independent molecules (A and B) in each asymmetric unit to give Z' = 2 structures. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra show the expected mirror image relationship resulting from diastereomeric excess toward the Λ-Zn for R-ligands and Δ-Zn for S-ligands in solution. ECD spectra are well reproduced by TDDFT calculations, while the application of the exciton chirality method, in the common point-dipole approximation, predicts the wrong sign for the long-wavelength couplet. A dynamic diastereomeric equilibrium (Λ vs Δ) prevails for both R- and S-ligand-metal complexes in solution, respectively, evidenced by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Variable temperature (1)H NMR spectra show a temperature-dependent shift of the diastereomeric equilibrium and confirm Δ-Zn configuration (for S-ligand) to be the most stable one and favored at low temperature. DSC analyses provide quantitative diastereomeric excess in the solid state for Zn-2R and Zn-2S, which is comparable to the results of solution studies.