Combining ferrocenes and molecular squares: Self-assembly of heterobimetallic macrocyclic squares incorporating mixed transition metal systems and a main group element. Single-crystal x-ray structure of [Pt(dppf)(H2O)(2)][OTf](2)

The preparation of the reactive diaqua complexes of (bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene)-palladium(II) and -platinum(II) bis(triflates) and the X-ray crystal structure of [Pt(dppf)(H2O)(2)][OTf](2) (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) are reported. Interaction of these complexes with 2,7-diazapyrene produced novel octanuclear square-shaped metallomacrocycles. Modular self-assembly of [Pd(dppf)(H2O)(2)][OTf](2) and [Pt(dppf)(H2O)(2)][OTf](2) with his[4-(4'-pyridyl)phenyl] iodonium triflate results in the facile formation of hexanuclear macrocyclic squares with alternating iodonium-late transition metals (Pd(II) or Pt(II)) at the corners and ferrocene complex as the chelating unit.