Fig. 7. (A) Top – Attempted generation of complexes [Cu(7,8)2]+ and [Zn(2,3)2]2+ through the self-sorting of their initial reactants. Reaction conditions: 2 : 3 : 7 : 8 : Cu(BF4) : Zn(BF4)2 (2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 1), CD3CN, 60 °C, 18 h. Bottom – Partial 1H NMR spectrum (400 MHz, CD3CN, 297 K) of the crude reaction mixture after 18 h at 60 °C; the diagnostic signals of the complexes are colour coded, [Cu(7,8)2]+ in red and [Zn(2,3)2]2+ in green. Two of the diagnostic signals of [Zn(2,3)(2,7)]2+ are highlighted by orange stars, one of the diagnostic signals of [Zn(2,7)2]2+ is highlighted by a brown square and one of the diagnostic signals of the free aldehyde 7 is highlighted by a green pentagon. (B) Top – Generation of complexes [Cu(7,8)2]+ and [Zn(3,9)2]2+ through the self-sorting of their initial reagents. Reaction conditions: 3 : 7 : 8 : 9 : Cu(BF4) : Zn(BF4)2 (2 : 2 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 1), CD3CN, 60 °C, 18 h. Bottom – Partial 1H NMR spectrum (400 MHz, CD3CN, 297 K) of the crude reaction mixture after 18 h at 60 °C; the diagnostic signals of the complexes are colour coded, [Cu(7,8)2]+ in red and [Zn(3,9)2]2+ in green. Two of the diagnostic signals of [Zn(3,9)(7,9)]2+ are highlighted by grey stars and one of the diagnostic signals of the free aldehyde 7 is highlighted by a green pentagon.
