Synthesis,Characterisation and Photophysical Study of Alkynylrhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Diimine Complexes and Their Metal‐Ion Coordination‐Assisted Metallogelation Properties

A series of alkynylrhenium(I) tricarbonyl diimine complexes has been synthesized and characterized. A blue shift of the intense low‐energy MLCT absorption band in the visible region was observed upon coordination of Cu^I or Ag^I. This class of complexes has been found to show rich thermotropic gelation behaviour upon Cu^I or Ag^I coordination with their morphology characterized by SEM. Their variable‐temperature UV/Vis absorption and emission properties have also been studied. A blue shift in the MLCT absorption band and the switching on of luminescence were observed upon sol–gel transition.     

Nanocomposite Made of an Oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene)‐Based Trihybrid Thixotropic Metallo(organo)gel Comprising Nanoscale Metal–Organic Particles,Carbon Nanohorns,and Silver Nanoparticles

A silver ion (Ag⁺)‐triggered thixotropic metallo(organo)gel of p‐pyridyl‐appended oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives (OPVs) is reported for the first time. Solubilization of single‐walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) in solutions of the pure OPVs as well as in the metallogels mediated by π–π interactions has also been achieved. In situ fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the SWCNH‐doped dihybrid gel leads to the formation of a trihybrid metallogel. The mechanical strength of the metallogels could be increased stepwise in the order: freshly prepared gel<dihybrid gel<trihybrid gel. Microscopic studies of the trihybrid gel indicate the formation of three distinct morphologies, that is, nanoscale metal–organic particles (NMOPs), flowerlike aggregates of SWCNHs and AgNPs, and also their integration with each other. Detailed studies suggest lamellar organizations of the linear metal–ligand complexes in the NMOPs, which upon association create a three‐dimensional network that eventually immobilizes the solvent molecules.     

以Schiff base为配体的Cu(Ⅱ)-金属凝胶的制备和表征

以间苯二甲醛分别与异烟肼、烟酸酰肼和2-吡啶甲酰肼反应,合成了3种含吡啶环的Schiff base配体间苯二甲醛双缩4-吡啶甲酰腙(S1)、间苯二甲醛双缩3-吡啶甲酰腙(S2)和间苯二甲醛双缩2-吡啶甲酰腙(S3);测试了这3个化合物与醋酸铜通过配位作用在不同溶剂中形成金属凝胶的能力,结果发现,配体S1与醋酸铜在DMF/H_2O和DMSO/H_2O的混合溶剂中、配体S3与醋酸铜在DMF/H_2O的混合溶剂中均可以形成金属凝胶。胶凝测试结果表明,吡啶环上N原子位置的不同,对化合物形成金属凝胶的能力有极大影响。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了金属凝胶的微观形貌,结果表明,配体分子的结构对金属凝胶的微观形貌也有较大影响;红外光谱和紫外可见光谱的研究证明了配位作用在金属凝胶形成过程中的推动作用;X射线衍射分析(XRD)研究表明,配体S1与醋酸铜在两种混合溶剂中形成的金属凝胶均表现出了四方堆积结构。     

Metallogels Derived from Silver Coordination Polymers of C3‐Symmetric Tris(pyridylamide) Tripodal Ligands: Synthesis of Ag Nanoparticles and Catalysis

By applying a recently developed crystal engineering rationale, four C₃ symmetric tris(pyridylamide) ligands namely 1,3,5‐tris(nicotinamidomethyl)‐2,4,6‐triethylbenzene, 1,3,5‐tris(isonicotinamidomethyl)‐2,4,6‐triethylbenzene, 1,3,5‐tris(nicotinamidomethyl)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzene, and 1,3,5‐tris(isonicotinamidomethyl)‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzene, which contain potential hydrogen‐bonding sites, were designed and synthesized for generating Ag^I coordination polymers and coordination‐polymer‐based gels. The coordination polymers thus obtained were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The silver metallogels were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic rheology. Upon exposure to visible light, these silver metallogels produced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which were characterized by TEM, powder X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These NPs were found to be effectively catalyzed the reduction of 4‐nitrophenolate to 4‐aminophenolate without the use of any exogenous reducing agent.     

Poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(L‐lactide) star block copolymer hydrogels crosslinked by metal–ligand coordination

The aqueous solution behavior and thermoreversible gelation properties of pyridine‐end‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(L ‐lactide) (PEG–(PLLA)₈–py) star block copolymers in the presence of coordinating transition metal ions were studied. In aqueous solutions, the macromonomers self‐assembled into micelles and micellar aggregates at low concentrations and formed physically crosslinked, thermoreversible hydrogels above a critical gel concentration (CGC) of 8% w/v. In the presence of transition metal ions like Cu(II), Co(II), or Mn(II), the aggregate dimensions increased. Above the CGC, the gel–sol transition shifted to higher temperatures due to the formation of additional crosslinks from intermolecular coordination complexes between metal ions and pyridine ligands. Furthermore, as an example, PEG–(PLLA)₈–py hydrogels stabilized by Mn(II)–pyridine coordination complexes were more resistant against degradation/dissolution when placed in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C when compared with hydrogels prepared in water. Importantly, the stabilizing effect of metal–ligand coordination was noticeable at very low Cu(II) concentrations, which have been reported to be noncytotoxic for fibroblasts in vitro. These novel PEG–(PLLA)₈–py metallo‐hydrogels, which are the first systems to combine metal–ligand coordination with the advantageous properties of PEG–PLLA copolymer hydrogels, are appealing materials that may find use in biomedical as well as environmental applications like the removal of heavy metal ions from waste streams. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

A Porphyrin Coordination Cage Assembled from Four Silver(I) Triazolyl‐Pyridine Complexes

The synthesis of a zinc(II) porphyrin 1 with four appended triazolyl–pyridine chelates is reported. Complexation of the porphyrin peripheral ligands with Ag^I ions in a 1:2 binding stoichiometry afforded quantitatively the coordination cage [Ag₄( 1 )₂]⁴⁺. The assembly and disassembly processes of the cage were investigated in solution using UV/Vis spectroscopy. The mathematical analysis of the data obtained in the UV/Vis titration of 1 with Ag^I confirmed the assembly in CH₂Cl₂/MeOH (90:10) solution of a species having a 1:2 porphyrin/silver stoichiometry and assigned to it an overall stability constant of 5.0×10²⁶ M ^?5. The use of a model system allowed an independent assessment of a microscopic binding constant value (K_m) for the interaction between the triazolyl‐pyridine ligand and Ag^I. The coincidence that existed between the K_m values extracted from the model system and the titration of 1 provided an indication of the quality and fit of the data analysis. It also allowed the calculation of the average effective molarity (EM) value for the three intramolecular processes that led to the cage assembly as 2.6 mM . Simulated speciation profiles supported the conclusion that at millimolar concentration and working under strict stoichiometric control of the silver/porphyrin ratio, the cage [Ag₄( 1 )₂]⁴⁺ was the species exclusively assembled in solution. On the other hand, when the concentration of added Ag^I was approximately 2.6 mM , 50 % of the coordination cage disassembled into open aggregates.     

Synthesis,Structure and Catalytic Activity of NHC–AgI Carboxylate Complexes

A general synthetic route was used to prepare 15 new N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–Ag^I complexes bearing anionic carboxylate ligands [Ag(NHC)(O₂CR)], including a homologous series of complexes of sterically flexible ITent ligands, which permit a systematic spectroscopic and theoretical study of the structural and electronic features of these compounds. The complexes displayed a significant ligand‐accelerated effect in the intramolecular cyclisation of propargylic amides to oxazolidines. The substrate scope is highly complementary to that previously achieved by NHC–Au and pyridyl–Ag^I complexes.     

Design of coordination polymer as stable catalytic systems

Here we report the first example of catalytic metallogels, which are formed irreversibly in dimethylsulfoxide via the creation of cross-linked, three-dimensional coordination polymer networks by using transition-metal ions with multiple sites available for coordination and multidentate ligands. Conformational flexibility of the ligands and slow formation of the coordination polymers apparently favor the gelation. These metallogels are stable in water and most organic solvents and can catalyze the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde by using their PdII moieties as the catalytic centers. The best catalytic turnover of the metallogel is twice that of [Pd(OAc)2] under similar reaction conditions.     

Metal–Arene Interactions in Dialkylbiarylphosphane Complexes of Copper,Silver, and Gold

Dialkylbiphenylphosphane–Au^I complexes exhibit only weak metal–arene interactions with the covering arene ring. However, the contacts in isoleptic Ag^I and Cu^I complexes are shorter than the limiting values of 3.03 Å (Ag^I) and 2.83 Å (Cu^I). Strong metal–arene interactions were also found in the two Ag^I aquo complexes and in two acetonitrile? Cu^I complexes with dialkylbiphenylphosphane ligands. Arene–Ag^I complexes with these bulky phosphane ligands show the strongest Ag^I? arene bonds known.     

Exploring Coordination Modes: Late Transition Metal Complexes with a Methylene‐bridged Macrocyclic Tetra‐NHC Ligand

A tetranuclear silver(I) N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex bearing a macrocyclic, exclusively methylene‐bridged, tetracarbene ligand was synthesized and employed as transmetalation agent for the synthesis of nickel(II), palladium(II), platinum(II), and gold(I) derivatives. The transition metal complexes exhibit different coordination geometries, the coinage metals being bound in a linear fashion forming molecular box‐type complexes, whereas the group 10 metals adapt an almost ideal square planar coordination geometry within the ligand's cavity, resulting in saddle‐shaped complexes. Both the Ag^I and the Au^I complexes show ligand‐induced metal–metal contacts, causing photoluminescence in the blue region for the gold complex. Distinct metal‐dependent differences of the coordination behavior between the group 10 transition metals were elucidated by low‐temperature NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.     

Rheoreversible Metallogels Derived from Coordination Polymers

A series of mixed‐ligand‐based Cd^II/Co^II coordination polymers (CPs) that were derived from two bis(pyridyl)–bis(amide) ligands, 4,4′‐oxybis(N‐(pyridin‐3‐yl)benzamide) ( LP ) and 4,4′‐oxybis(N‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzamide) ( LP1 ), and a variety of dicarboxylates isophthalates, terephthalates, 1,2‐carboxytranscinamates, and 1,3‐ and 1,4‐phenylene dicarboxylates were synthesized based on a rationale that they would occlude solvate guests inside their crystal lattice, thereby rendering these CPs suitable as metallogelators. The CPs were characterized by using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, elemental analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), FTIR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Structural analyses revealed that the majority of the CPs were lattice‐occluded molecular solids, which provided us with an opportunity to study their gelation behavior. We observed that, out of eight CPs that were tested, seven were able to produce metallogels. A thorough study of the rheological behavior of the metallogels was performed and CPG1 , CPG2 , CPG4 , and CPG5 were found to exhibit rheoreversible behavior, which was further confirmed by rheological experiments. Interestingly, ligand LP was found to form an aqueous gel, which was exploited to produce silver nanoparticles.     

Bis(μ-2-cyano­pyridine-N:N′)­bis­[(2-cyano­pyridine-N)silver(I)] bis­(tetra­fluoro­borate): an anion-linked molecular ladder

In the title compound, [Ag₂(C₆H₄N₂)₄](BF₄)₂, the Ag^I cations adopt distorted trigonal-planar coordination geometries. The Ag^I centres are linked via two bridging 2-cyano­pyridine ligands to give a centrosymmetric dinuclear complex in which the Ag^I coordination environment is completed by monodentate non-bridging 2-cyano­pyridine ligands. Bridging Ag⋯F(BF₂)F⋯Ag interactions link the dinuclear cations into molecular ladders.     

A one‐dimensional silver(I) coordination polymer based on 5‐methyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine and pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylate

The bifunctional pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂pdc) ligand has one N atom and four O atoms, which could bind more than one Ag^I centre with diverse binding modes. A novel infinite one‐dimensional Ag^I coordination polymer, namely catena‐poly[[silver(I)‐(μ₂‐pyridine‐2,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ²N :O ³)‐silver(I)‐tris(μ₂‐5‐methyl‐1,3,4‐thiodiazol‐2‐amine‐κ²N :N ′)] monohydrate ethanol monosolvate], {[Ag₂(C₇H₃NO₄)(C₃H₅N₃S)₃]·H₂O·C₂H₅OH}_n , has been synthesized using H₂pdc and 5‐methyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine (tda), and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. One Ag^I atom is located in a four‐coordinated AgN₄ tetrahedral geometry and the other Ag^I atom is in a tetrahedral AgN₃O geometry. A dinuclear Ag^I cluster formed by three tda ligands with a paddelwheel configuration is bridged by the dianionic pdc²⁻ ligand into a one‐dimensional coordination polymer. Interchain N—H…O hydrogen bonds extend the one‐dimensional chains into an undulating two‐dimensional sheet. The sheets are further packed into a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework by interchain N—H…O hydrogen bonds.     

Silver baits for the "miraculous draught" of amphiphilic lanthanide helicates

The axial connection of flexible thioalkyls chains of variable length (n=1–12) within the segmental bis‐tridentate 2‐benzimidazole‐8‐hydroxyquinoline ligands [ L12 ^Cn?2 H]^2? provides amphiphilic receptors designed for the synthesis of neutral dinuclear lanthanides helicates. However, the stoichiometric mixing of metals and ligands in basic media only yields intricate mixtures of poorly soluble aggregates. The addition of Ag^I in solution restores classical helicate architectures for n=3, with the quantitative formation of the discrete D₃‐symmetrical [Ln₂Ag2( L12 ^C3?2 H)₃]²⁺ complexes at millimolar concentration (Ln=La, Eu, Lu). The X‐ray crystal structure supports the formation of [La₂Ag₂( L12 ^C3?2 H)₃][OTf]₂, which exists in the solid state as infinite linear polymers bridged by S‐Ag‐S bonds. In contrast, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in the gas phase and in solution confirm the experimental diffusion measurements, which imply the formation of discrete molecular entities in these media, in which the sulfur atoms of each lipophilic ligand are rapidly exchanged within the Ag^I coordination sphere. Turned as a predictive tool, MD suggests that this Ag^I templating effect is efficient only for n=1–3, while for n>3 very loose interactions occur between Ag^I and the thioalkyl residues. The subsequent experimental demonstration that only 25 % of the total ligand speciation contributes to the formation of [Ln₂Ag₂( L12 ^C12?2 H)₃]²⁺ in solution puts the bases for a rational approach for the design of amphiphilic helical complexes with predetermined molecular interfaces.     

A Dual‐Functional Metallogel of Amphiphilic Copper(II) Quinolinol: Redox Responsiveness and Enantioselectivity

A dual‐functional metallogel, which was based on the copper(II) complex of quinolinol‐substituted L ‐glutamide, showed both redox‐responsive and enantioselective properties; moreover, the metallogels collapsed into a sol after reduction and could be revived upon subsequent oxidation. The supramolecular chirality and morphology also reversible changed with the gel–sol transition. Furthermore, the metallogels showed new enantioselective recognition towards chiral aromatic amino acids. A new emission band in the blue‐light region at around 393 nm appeared when the metallogels encountered L ‐aromatic amino acids, whereas no new emission band was observed for the corresponding D ‐aromatic amino acids. Such enantioselectivity only occurred in the gel state. No similar phenomenon could be observed in solution. This result suggested that, during the gel formation, the gelator molecules self‐assembled into ordered, chiral supramolecular structures and enhanced the enantiorecognition of the L ‐aromatic amino acids.     

Coordination Chemistry of N‐Heterocyclic Nitrenium‐Based Ligands

Comprehensive studies on the coordination properties of tridentate nitrenium‐based ligands are presented. N‐heterocyclic nitrenium ions demonstrate general and versatile binding abilities to various transition metals, as exemplified by the synthesis and characterization of Rh^I, Rh^III, Mo⁰, Ru⁰, Ru^II, Pd^II, Pt^II, Pt^IV, and Ag^I complexes based on these unusual ligands. Formation of nitrenium–metal bonds is unambiguously confirmed both in solution by selective ¹⁵N‐labeling experiments and in the solid state by X‐ray crystallography. The generality of N‐heterocyclic nitrenium as a ligand is also validated by a systematic DFT study of its affinity towards all second‐row transition and post‐transition metals (Y–Cd) in terms of the corresponding bond‐dissociation energies.     

A two‐dimensional network formed by self‐associating silver(I) perchlorate with 3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile

In the organometallic silver(I) supramolecular complex poly[[silver(I)‐μ₃‐3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile] perchlorate methanol solvate], {[Ag(C₁₈H₁₁N₃S)](ClO₄)·CH₃OH}_n, there is only one type of Ag^I center, which lies in an {AgN₂Sπ} coordination environment. Two unsymmetric multidentate 3‐[4‐(2‐thienyl)‐2H‐cyclopenta[d]pyridazin‐1‐yl]benzonitrile (L) ligands link two Ag^I atoms through π–Ag^I interactions into an organometallic box‐like unit, from which two 3‐cyanobenzoyl arms stretch out in opposite directions and bind two Ag^I atoms from neighboring box‐like building blocks. This results in a novel two‐dimensional network extending in the crystallographic bc plane. These two‐dimensional sheets stack together along the crystallographic a axis to generate parallelogram‐like channels. The methanol solvent molecules and the perchlorate counter‐ions are located in the channels, where they are fixed by intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions. This architecture may provide opportunities for host–guest chemistry, such as guest molecule loss and absorption or ion exchange. The new fulvene‐type multidentate ligand L is a good candidate for the preparation of Cp–Ag^I‐containing (Cp is cyclopentadienyl) organometallic coordination polymers or supramolecular complexes.     

A Platinum(II) Terpyridine Metallogel with an L‐Valine‐Modified Alkynyl Ligand: Interplay of Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt, π–π and Hydrogen‐Bonding Interactions

A series of platinum(II) terpyridine complexes with L ‐valine‐modified alkynyl ligands has been synthesized. A complex with an unsubstituted terpyridine and one valine unit on the alkynyl is shown to be capable of gel formation, which is in sharp contrast to the gelation properties of the corresponding organic counterparts. Upon sol–gel transition, a drastic color change from yellow to red is observed, which is indicative of the involvement of Pt ??? Pt interactions. Through the concentration‐ and temperature‐dependent UV/Vis absorption, emission, circular dichroism, and ¹H NMR studies, the contribution of hydrogen bonding, Pt ??? Pt and π–π stacking interactions as driving forces for gelation have been established, and the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between different intermolecular forces has also been illustrated.     

A stair‐like two‐dimensional silver(I) coordination polymer of N′‐(3‐cyanobenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide

The structure of the title compound, poly[[[μ₃‐N′‐(3‐cyanobenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide]silver(I)] hexafluoroarsenate], {[Ag(C₁₄H₁₀N₄O)](AsF₆)}_n, at 173 K exhibits a novel stair‐like two‐dimensional layer and a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework through C—H...Ag hydrogen bonds. The Ag^I cation is coordinated by three N atoms and one O atom from N′‐(3‐cyanobenzylidene)nicotinohydrazide (L) ligands, resulting in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. The organic ligand acts as a μ₃‐bridging ligand through the pyridyl and carbonitrile N atoms and deviates from planarity in order to adapt to the coordination geometry. Two ligands bridge two Ag^I cations to construct a small 2+2 Ag₂L₂ ring. Four ligands bridge one Ag^I cation from each of four of these small rings to form a large grid. An interesting stair‐like two‐dimensional (3,6)‐net is formed through Ag^I metal centres acting as three‐connection nodes and through L molecules as tri‐linkage spacers.     

Anion Effects on the Formation of Silver(I) Complexes with the Flexible Ligand 4,4′‐Bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)biphenyl

The reaction of 4,4′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)biphenyl (btmb) with silver(I) salts of BF₄^–, NO₃^– and N₃^– led to the formation of four new silver(I) coordination polymers {[Ag(btmb)]BF₄}_n ( 1 ), {[Ag₂(btmb)₃](NO₃)₂(H₂O)₅}_n ( 2 ), [Ag₂(btmb)(N₃)₂]_n ( 3 ), and [Ag(btmb)(N₃)]_n ( 4 ). Their coordination number varies from 2 (in 1 ) to 3 (in 2 ), 4 (in 3 ), and 5 (in 4 ). Different from the single chain structure of 1 , complex 2 displays a 1D ladder‐like double chain framework, whereas complex 3 exhibits a 2D layered architecture. Complex 4 has the same anion as complex 3 but shows a different metal‐to‐ligand ratio and a 1D double‐zigzag chain structure. Both 3 and 4 have Ag ··· Ag argentophilic interactions. The ligand btmb adopts both cis or trans configuration in the studied complexes. A trans‐ or cis‐btmb ligand link silver ions with Ag ··· Ag distances of ≈?18 and 13 Å, respectively. BF₄^– and NO₃^– are non‐coordinating anions in 1 and 2 . N₃^– is the bridging anion in 3 (1,3‐bridging fashion) and 4 (1,1‐bridging fashion). These findings suggest that the coordination numbers around the Ag^I ion correlate to the coordination abilities of anions and the btmb to silver ratio. In addition, the influence of anions on thermal stability were also investigated. This work is a good example that nicely supports the less explored field of anion‐dependent structures of complexes with non‐pyridyl ligands.