Triphenylene-Bridged Trinuclear Complexes of Cu: Models for Spin Interactions in Two-Dimensional Electrically Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks

Reaction of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexahydroxytriphenylene (HHTP) and 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaaminotriphenylene (HATP) with [Cu(Me(3)tacn)](2+) (Me(3)tacn = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) produces trigonal tricopper complexes [(Me(3)tacnCu)(3)(HOTP)](3+) (1) and [(Me(3)tacnCu)(3)(HITP)](4+) (2) (HOTP, HITP = hexaoxy- and hexaiminotriphenylene, respectively). These trinuclear complexes are molecular models for spin exchange interactions in the two-dimensional conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) copper hexaoxytriphenylene (Cu3HOTP2) and copper hexaiminotriphenylene (Cu3HITP2). Whereas complex 1 is isolated with HOTP3- bearing the same oxidation state as found in the oxy-bridged MOF, the triply oxidized HITP3- found in Cu3HITP2 is unstable with respect to disproportionation in the molecular model. Indeed, magnetic measurements reveal ligand-centered radical character for 1 and a closed-shell structure for 2, in agreement with the redox state of the ligands. All neighboring spins are antiferromagnetically coupled in 1 and 2. These results help probe metal-ligand-metal interactions in conductive MOFs and provide potential inspiration for the synthesis of other two-dimensional materials with delocalized electrons.