SYNTHESIS OF BINUCLEAR PLATINUM METAL N4O2-COMPARTMENTAL COMPLEXES - THE STRUCTURES OF THE PROTONATED METAL-FREE MACROCYCLE [LH4](PF6)2.MENO2 AND OF [PD2(L)](BF4)2.2MENO2

Reaction of [LH4](PF6)2, formed by condensation of 1,3-diaminopropane and 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol in the presence of HBr followed by addition of NH4PF6, with platinum metal salts in the presence of base affords [M2(L)]2+ (M = Pd, Pt) and [M2Cl4(L)] (M = Rh); the structure of [LH4](PF6)2.MeNO2 shows a folded conformation incorporating both inter- and intra-molecular pi-pi interactions between phenyl rings; in contrast, the structure of [Pd2(L)](BF4)2.2MeNO2 shows the binucleating macrocycle to be planar with intermolecular pi-ring stacking.