Atomically accurate structural tailoring of thiacalix[4]arene-protected copper(II)-based metallamacrocycles.

Accurate manipulation of ligands at specific sites in robust clusters is attractive but difficult, especially for those ligands that coordinate in intricate binding patterns. By linking the shuttlecock-like {Cu(μ-Cl)TC4A} motif and the phenylphosphate (PhPO) ligand, we elaborately design and synthesize two Cu(II)-thiacalix[4]arene metallamacrocycles (MMCs), namely CuL and CuL, which have regular triangular and quadrilateral topologies, respectively. While keeping the core intact, the Cl and PhPO in those two MMCs, which coordinated in a μ-bridging fashion, can be accurately substituted with salicylate ligands. Theoretical calculations have been carried out to reveal the effect of ligand tailoring on the electronic structure of clusters. Structural regulation can affect the catalytic activity of these clusters, which has been verified by using the clusters as catalysts for selective sulfide oxidation.