Ditopic Hexadentate Ligands with a Central Dihydrobenzo‐diimidazole Unit Forming a [2x2] Zn 4 Grid Complex

A family of ditopic hexadentate ligands based on the parent compound 2,6-bis(6-(pyrazol-1-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-1,5-dihydrobenzo[1,2-d:4,5-d’]diimidazole (L) was developed and synthesized by using a straightforward condensation reaction, which forms interlinking central benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d’]diimidazole bridge in ligand backbone. The two secondary amine groups benzodiimidazole unit tautomerize allow formation tauto-conformers, upon treatment with metal salts different isomeric coordination complexes. Here we report six new derivatives (1–6) that can (varying pyrazolylpyridine part) 14 (7–13) alkyl benzyl substitution amino (of L) prevent tautomerization. This way, it is possible to study properties complexes their intrinsic cooperativity example [2x2] grid future. Zn4 complex L structurally characterized.