Expedient Method for the Transmetalation of Zn(II)-Centered Salphen Complexes

Various mono- and bis-Zn^II complexes derived from salphen ligands have been conveniently transmetalated with a number of transition metal (TM) acetates (M = Ni, Pd, Mn) in THF to afford their respective TM-salphen counterparts in excellent isolated yields (80-100%). This new transmetalation procedure allows in situ switching between supramolecular and catalytic functions of the metallosalphen complex.