Research Topic: Mechanically Interlocked NHC Ligands in Supramolecular Organometallics

The focus of my PhD project lies on the implementation of tubular metallocavitands – so-called pillarplexes – as building blocks in supramolecular assemblies. The porous pillarplexes show extraordinary selectivity for the insertion of linear molecules into their cavity and this host–guest chemistry is systematically explored. The cavitands and the incorporated molecules are highly modular and attachment of sterically demanding stopper groups at the ends of the linear guest is used to construct mechanically interlocked molecules, so-called rotaxanes.

 

The metal ions holding the pillarplex subcomponents together can be reversibly released upon an external stimulus (pH-change). Hereby, a purely organic mechanically interlocked ligand is obtained. This “rotaxand” consists of two macrocyclic rings threated onto the molecular axle. The coordination behavior of such platforms in presence of group 8 – 11 metal ions will be explored.

Selected publications

T. Pickl, A. Pöthig, Organometallics 2021, 40, 3056–3065 (Bimetallic Platinum Group Complexes of a Macrocyclic Pyrazolate/NHC Hybrid Ligand)

S. Guan and T. Pickl, C. Jandl, L. Schuchmann, X. Zhou, P. J. Altmann, A. Pöthig, Org. Chem. Front. 2021, 8, 4061–4070 (Triazolate-based pillarplexes: shape-adaptive metallocavitands via rim modification of macrocyclic ligands)

M. M. Morgan, M. Nazari, T. Pickl, J. M. Rautiainen, H. M. Tuononen, W. E. Piers, G. C. Welch, B. S. Gelfand, Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 11095–11098 (Boron–nitrogen substituted dihydroindeno[1,2-b]fluorene derivatives as acceptors in organic solar cells)

J. Radebner, A. Eibel, M. Leypold, N. Jungwirth, T. Pickl, A. Torvisco, R. Fischer, U. K. Fischer, N. Moszner, G. Gescheidt, H. Stueger, M. Haas, Chem. Eur. J. 2018, 24, 8281–8285 (Tetraacylstannanes as Long-Wavelength Visible-Light Photoinitiators with Intriguing Low Toxicity)