Discrete metal complexes of two multiply armed ligands

The syntheses and metal complexes of 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(8-quinolyloxymethyl) benzene 1 and hexakis(8-quinolyloxymethyl) benzene 2 are described. X-Ray crystal structures are reported of the free ligand 1, a binuclear silver(I) and a tetranuclear copper(I) complex of 1, as well as a binuclear cobalt(II) and trinuclear palladium(II) and silver(I) complexes of 2. Within these discrete metal complexes the ligands are found to adopt a range of coordination modes, with considerable variation in the relative orientations of the ligand arms as a result of the flexibility imparted by the CH2O linker units.