Aromatic Donor–Acceptor Interaction-Based Co(III)-salen Self-Assemblies and Their Applications in Asymmetric Ring Opening of Epoxides

Aromatic donor-acceptor interaction as the driving force to assemble cooperative catalysts is described. Pyrene/naphthalenediimide functionalized Co(III)-salen complexes self-assembled into bimetallic catalysts through aromatic donor-acceptor interactions and showed high catalytic activity and selectivity in the asymmetric ring opening of various epoxides. Control experiments, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy titrations, mass spectrometry measurement, and X-ray crystal structure analysis confirmed that the catalysts assembled based on the aromatic donor-acceptor interaction, which can be a valuable noncovalent interaction in supramolecular catalyst development.