The design of ligands that can act as platforms for the controlled,“bottom-up” synthesis of
transition-metal clusters is a promising approach to accessing enzymatic mimics and new
small-molecule reaction chemistry. This approach is exemplified here through the
coordination chemistry of two compartmental Schiff-base calixpyrroles (H4L) that usually act
as dinucleating ligands for transition metals. While reactions between H4L and Zn {N
(SiMe3) 2} 2 form the expected dinuclear Zn “Pacman” complexes Zn2 (L), reactions with …