Complex–Surfactant‐Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis and Properties of Hierarchical Worm‐Like Cobalt Sulfide Microtubes Assembled by Hexagonal Nanoplates

The preparation of exquisite hierarchical worm‐like Co_1?xS (x=0.75) microtubes by a one‐pot complex–surfactant‐assisted hydrothermal method is successfully achieved for the first time. The hierarchical structures of the microtube wall are assembled from numerous interleaving hexagonal nanoplates. X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the samples. The experimental results indicate that the “soft template” surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and the chelating ethylenediamine both play important roles for the formation of hierarchical Co_1?xS microtubes. A possible formation mechanism for the growth processes is proposed. Additionally, the electrochemical and magnetic properties of Co_1?xS microtubes were systematically studied.     

Trinuclear [CoIII2–LnIII] (Ln=Tb,Dy) Single‐Ion Magnets with Mixed 6‐Chloro‐2‐Hydroxypyridine and Schiff Base Ligands

The Schiff base ligand N1,N3‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)diethylenetriamine (H₂valdien) and the co‐ligand 6‐chloro‐2‐hydroxypyridine (Hchp) were used to construct two 3d–4f heterometallic single‐ion magnets [Co₂Dy(valdien)₂(OCH₃)₂(chp)₂] ? ClO₄ ? 5 H₂O ( 1 ) and [Co₂Tb(valdien)₂(OCH₃)₂(chp)₂] ? ClO₄ ? 2 H₂O ? CH₃OH ( 2 ). The two trinuclear [Co^III₂Ln^III] complexes behave as a mononuclear Ln^III magnetic system because of the presence of two diamagnetic cobalt(III) ions. Complex 1 has a molecular symmetry center, and it crystallizes in the C2/c space group, whereas complex 2 shows a lower molecular symmetry and crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group. Magnetic investigations indicated that both complexes are field‐induced single‐ion magnets, and the Co^III₂–Dy^III complex possesses a larger energy barrier [74.1(4.2) K] than the Co^III₂–Tb^III complex [32.3(2.6) K].     

A Spin‐Crossover Cluster of Iron(II) Exhibiting a Mixed‐Spin Structure and Synergy between Spin Transition and Magnetic Interaction

How low can you go? An Fe^II₄ square was prepared by self‐assembly and exhibits both thermally induced and photoinduced spin crossover from a system with four high‐spin (HS) centers to one with two high‐spin and two low‐spin (LS) centers. The spin‐crossover sites are located on the same side of the square, and the spin transition and magnetic interactions (see picture) are synergistically coupled.

     

The Neat Ternary Solid K5−xCo1−xSn9 with Endohedral [Co@Sn9]5− Cluster Units: A Precursor for Soluble Intermetalloid [Co2@Sn17]5− Clusters

A new type of Zintl phase is presented that contains endohedrally filled clusters and that allows for the formation of intermetalloid clusters in solution by a one‐step synthesis. The intermetallic compound K_5?xCo_1?xSn₉ was obtained by the reaction of a preformed Co? Sn alloy with potassium and tin at high temperatures. The diamagnetic saltlike ternary phase contains discrete [Co@Sn₉]^5? clusters that are separated by K⁺ ions. The intermetallic compound K_5?xCo_1?xSn₉ readily and incongruently dissolves in ethylenediamine and in the presence of 4,7,13,16,21,24‐hexaoxa‐1,10‐diazabicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosane (2.2.2‐crypt), thereby leading to the formation of crystalline [K([2.2.2]crypt)]₅[Co₂Sn₁₇]. The novel polyanion [Co₂Sn₁₇]^5? contains two Co‐filled Sn₉ clusters that share one vertex. Both compounds were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. The diamagnetism of K_5?xCo_1?xSn₉ and the paramagnetism of [K([2.2.2]crypt)]₅[Co₂Sn₁₇] have been confirmed by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) and EPR measurements, respectively. Quantum chemical calculations reveal an endohedral Co^1? atom in an [Sn₉]^4? nido cluster for [Co@Sn₉]^5? and confirm the stability of the paramagnetic [Co₂Sn₁₇]^5? unit.     

A mixed‐valence complex of cobalt based on 3‐methoxysalicylaldoxime

A new tetranuclear mixed‐valence cobalt complex, namely di‐μ₂‐azido‐diazidodiethanolbis{μ₂‐2‐[(hydroxyimino)methyl]‐6‐methoxyphenolato}bis{μ₃‐6‐methoxy‐2‐[(oxidoimino)methyl]phenolato}dicobalt(II)dicobalt(III) ethanol disolvate, [Co^II₂Co^III₂(C₈H₇NO₃)₂(C₈H₈NO₃)₂(N₃)₄(C₂H₅OH)₂]·2C₂H₅OH, has been synthesized by the reaction of Co(OAc)₂·4H₂O (OAc is acetate) with 3‐methoxysalicylaldoxime (H₂mosao) in an ethanol solution. In the complex, the four Co cations all display distorted octahedral coordination environments and they are bridged by two κ²,κ¹,κ¹;μ₃‐mosao²⁻ ligands, two κ²,κ²;μ₂‐Hmosao⁻ ligands and two μ₂‐N₃⁻ anions to form a tetranuclear [Co₄N₄O₄] cluster. Adjacent clusters are connected through weak C—H...N and C—H...O interactions, resulting in a two‐dimensional supramolecular network parallel to the ac plane. The magnetic properties of the complex have also been studied.     

[Co@Ge10]3−: An Intermetalloid Cluster with Archimedean Pentagonal Prismatic Structure

Inorganic pentaprismane : The unusual structure of the anion [Co@Ge₁₀]^3?, which was obtained by the reaction of K₄Ge₉ with [Co(C₈H₁₂)(C₈H₁₃)] in ethylenediamine, raises questions about chemical bonding in the anion. The Zintl ion cluster has virtual D_5h symmetry and is a unique example of a ligand‐free cluster that is not a deltahedron. The delocalized chemical bonding is represented in the picture by one of the bonding orbitals of the anion.

     

Exploring the effect of metal ions and counteranions on the structure and magnetic properties of five dodecanuclear Co(II) and Ni(II) clusters

We present the synthesis, characterization of the structures, and magnetic properties of five isostructural dodecanuclear coordination clusters of Ni(II) and Co(II): [Co(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(EtOH)(6)](NO(3))(5) (1), [Ni(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(H(2)O)(3)(EtOH)(3)](NO(3))(5)·2H(2)O (2), mixed-metal composition (Ni/Co 1:1) [Co(6)Ni(6)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(NO(3))(5) (3), and [M(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(EtOH)(6)](ClO(4))(5) (M=Co (4), Ni (5)), in which Hbm=(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methanol. They consist of analogous structural cores that are constructed by three cubanes (M(4)O(4)) that surround the templating nitrate and bridging auxiliary acetate and the directing ligands bm. They have different magnetic behaviors. Whereas there is the absence of the out-of-phase ac susceptibility (χ') for the Ni(II)-based compounds 2 and 5, the Co(II)-containing compounds 1, 3, and 4 have prominent χ' signals that exhibit frequency dependence, which indicates slow magnetic relaxation behavior above 1.8 K. In particular, the larger perchlorate counterions in 4 further change the overall correlation interaction between clusters, thus leading to an enhanced blocking temperature for the less-symmetrical 4 (pseudo-C(3)) relative to 1 and 3 (true C(3)). Interestingly, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) indicates that the three dodecanuclear clusters of 1-3 retain their compositions in solution. The mixed-metal cluster cores of 3 are formed based on the nature of the interchangeability between metal centers in solution.     

A New Quantum Chemical Approach to the Magnetic Properties of Oligonuclear Transition‐Metal Complexes: Application to a Model for the Tetranuclear Manganese Cluster of Photosystem II

Broken‐symmetry DFT calculations on transition‐metal clusters with more than two centers allow the hyperfine coupling constants to be extracted. Application of the proposed theoretical scheme to a tetranuclear manganese complex that models the S₂ state of the oxygen‐evolving complex of photosystem II yields hyperfine parameters that can be directly compared with experimental data. The picture shows the metal–oxo core of the model and the following parameters; exchange coupling constant J_ij, the expectation value of the site‐spin operator , and the isotropic hyperfine coupling parameters.

     

Tandem Silver Cluster Isomerism and Mixed Linkers to Modulate the Photoluminescence of Cluster‐Assembled Materials

Silver chalcogenolate cluster assembled materials (SCAMs) are a category of promising light‐emitting materials the luminescence of which can be modulated by variation of their building blocks (cluster nodes and organic linkers). The transformation of a singly emissive [Ag₁₂(SBu^t)₈(CF₃COO)₄(bpy)₄]_n (Ag₁₂bpy, bpy=4,4′‐bipyridine) into a dual‐emissive [(Ag₁₂(SBu^t)₆(CF₃COO)₆(bpy)₃)]_n (Ag₁₂bpy‐2) via cluster‐node isomerization, the critical importance of which was highlighted in dictating the photoluminescence properties of SCAMs. Moreover, the newly obtained Ag₁₂bpy‐2 served to construct visual thermochromic Ag₁₂bpy‐2/NH₂ by a mixed‐linker synthesis, together with dichromatic core–shell Ag₁₂bpy‐2@Ag₁₂bpy‐NH₂‐2 via solvent‐assisted linker exchange. This work provides insight into the significance of metal arrangement on physical properties of nanoclusters.     

A Cobalt Pyrenylnitronylnitroxide Single‐Chain Magnet with High Coercivity and Record Blocking Temperature

Coordination of a [Co(hfac)₂] moiety (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) with a nitronylnitroxide radical linked to bulky, rigid pyrene (PyrNN) gives a helical 1:1 chain complex, in which both oxygen atoms of the radical NO^. groups are bonded to Co^II ions with strong antiferromagnetic exchange. The complex shows single‐chain magnet (SCM) behavior with frequency‐dependent magnetic susceptibility, field‐cooled and zero‐field‐cooled susceptibility divergence with a high blocking temperature of around 14 K (a record among SCMs), and hysteresis with a very large coercivity of 32 kOe at 8 K. The magnetic behavior is partly related to good chain isolation induced by the large pyrene units. Two magnetic relaxation processes have been observed, a slower one attributable to longer, and a faster one attributable to short chains. No evidence of magnetic ordering has been found.     

A Rare Tetranuclear Thorium(IV) μ4‐Oxo Cluster and Dinuclear Thorium(IV) Complex Assembled by Carbon–Oxygen Bond Activation of 1,2‐Dimethoxyethane (DME)

The synthesis and X‐ray crystal structure of two new multinuclear thorium complexes are reported. The tetranuclear μ₄‐oxo cluster complex Th₄(μ₄‐O)(μ‐Cl)₂I₆[κ²(O,O’)‐μ‐O(CH₂)₂OCH₃]₆ and the dinuclear complex Th₂I₅[κ²(O,O’)‐μ‐O(CH₂)₂OCH₃]₃(DME) (DME=dimethoxyethane) are formed by C?O bond activation of 1,2‐dimethoxyethane (DME) mediated by thorium iodide complexes.