Steric manipulation is a known concept in molecular recognition but there is currently no linear free energy relationship correlating sterics to the stability of receptor‐anion complexes nor to the reactivity of the bound anion. By analogy to Tolman cone angles in cation coordination chemistry, we explore how to define and correlate cone angles of organo‐trifluoroborates (R−BF3−) to the affinities observed for cyanostar‐anion binding. We extend the analogy to a rare investigation of the anion's reactivity and how it changes upon binding. The substituent on the anion is used to define the cone angle,
The recognition of boron compounds is well developed as boronic acids but untapped as organotrifluoroborate anions (R−BF3−). We are exploring the development of these and other designer anions as anion‐recognition motifs by considering them as substituted versions of the parent inorganic ion. To this end, we demonstrate strong and reliable binding of organic trifluoroborates, R−BF3−, by cyanostar macrocycles that are size‐complementary to the inorganic BF4−progenitors. We find that recognition is modulated by the substituent's sterics and that the affinities are retained using the common K+salts of R−BF3−anions.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10377258
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Chemistry – A European Journal
- Volume:
- 28
- Issue:
- 60
- ISSN:
- 0947-6539
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Abstract Steric manipulation is a known concept in molecular recognition but there is currently no linear free energy relationship correlating sterics to the stability of receptor‐anion complexes nor to the reactivity of the bound anion. By analogy to Tolman cone angles in cation coordination chemistry, we explore how to define and correlate cone angles of organo‐trifluoroborates (R−BF3−) to the affinities observed for cyanostar‐anion binding. We extend the analogy to a rare investigation of the anion's reactivity and how it changes upon binding. The substituent on the anion is used to define the cone angle,
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