Electrochemically Driven Cup-and-Ball Cu-I and Cu-II Complexes
Abstract
The conformation of copper "funnel" complexes that contains a coordinating appended arm can be electrochemically switched between endo, which corresponds to the self-coordination of the arm through the cavity, and exo positions. This process, which is reminiscent of a cup-and-ball device, is activated by an exogenous ligand for complexes that contain a hydroxy-terminated arm. The exchange is electrochemically triggered and is operated in either Cu-I or Cu-II redox states, depending on the exogenous ligand, that is, CO or n-butylamine, respectively.