Supramolecular reactions of metallo-architectures: Ag(2)-double-helicate/Zn(4)-grid, Pb(4)-grid/Zn(4)-grid interconversions, and Ag(2)-double-helicate fusion

Supramolecular reactions are of importance in many fields. We report herein three examples where complexes of hydrazone-based ligands are involved. A Ag(2)-double-helicate was converted, by treatment with Zn(OTf)(2), into a Zn(4)-grid (exchange of metal ions and change of the nature of the initial complex). A Pb(4)-grid was converted, upon reaction with ZnCl(2) or ZnBr(2), into a Zn(4)-grid (exchange of metal ions, but conservation of the nature of the initial complex). The reverse conversions were also achieved. The fusion of a Ag(2)-double-helicate with another Ag(2)-double-helicate was performed (exchange of ligands, but conservation of the nature of the complexes) and resulted in a mixture of three helicates (two homostranded ones and one heterostranded one).