Balancing connectivity with function in silver(i) networks of pyridyltriazole (tzpa) ligands results in the formation of a metallogel.

A new flexible and divergent 1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-picolinamide (tzpa) ligand 2 and the half-equivalent model ligand 1, both functionalised with pendant 3-pyridyl groups, are reported and their coordination behaviour with silver(i) ions is explored, both in the crystalline phase and through the formation of a supramolecular metallogel. The self-assembly of tzpa ligand 1 with AgCF3SO3 resulted in the formation of a 1D coordination polymer, binding in a bidentate fashion through the pyridyl and triazole nitrogen atoms of the tzpa binding site and a pendant pyridyl nitrogen atom of an adjacent ligand. Doubling the number of metal binding sites in ligand 2, while retaining the same metal binding domain, gives rise to the formation of a supramolecular metallogel on reaction with AgBF4 at 5 wt% in MeCN, possessing self-healing properties.

Unexpected linkage isomerism in chiral tetranuclear bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide (tzpa) grids.

The synthesis of a chiral bis-tridentate (1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-picolinamide (tzpa) ligand is described and its coordination chemistry with Cu(NO3)2 and [Cu(MeCN)4]PF6 is explored in the crystalline phase as well as in solution. Chiral [2 × 2] tetranuclear square grid complexes [Cu4(H21)4](NO3)8 and [Cu4(H1)4](PF6)4 were observed, and crystallographically analysed, these being linkage isomers with N4O2 and N5O coordination spheres, respectively. These come about by an unusual in situ amide deprotonation and coordination, which accompanies a CuI → CuII oxidation process.

Exploring the reversible host-guest chemistry of a crystalline octanuclear Ag(i) metallosupramolecular macrocycle formed from a simple pyrazinylpyridine ligand.

Here we report the synthesis of two new 2-(2'-pyrazinyl)pyridine ligands, and explore their coordination chemistry with Cu(ii) and Ag(i) ions, leading to the discovery of metallosupramolecular architectures of surprising complexity. Differing only in the substitution pattern of a nitrophenyl substituent attached to the 4-pyridyl position, ligands L1 and L2 both form sulfate-bridged dinuclear complexes on reaction with copper sulfate, without coordination of the nitrogen atom at the pyrazine 4-position. However, on reaction with Ag(i), both ligands adopt bridging coordination modes which lead to dramatically different outcomes.