Adducts of bis(acetylacetonato)zinc(II) with 1,10‐phenanthroline and 2,2′‐bipyridine

In each of the zinc(II) complexes bis(acetylacetonato‐κ²O,O′)(1,10‐phenanthroline‐κ²N,N′)zinc(II), [Zn(C₅H₇O₂)₂(C₁₂H₈N₂)], (I), and bis(acetylacetonato‐κ²O,O′)(2,2′‐bipyridine‐κ²N,N′)zinc(II), [Zn(C₅H₇O₂)₂(C₁₀H₈N₂)], (II), the metal center has a distorted octahedral coordination geometry. Compound (I) has crystallographically imposed twofold symmetry, with Z′ = 0.5. The presence of a rigid phenanthroline group precludes intramolecular hydrogen bonding, whereas the rather flexible bipyridyl ligand is twisted to form an intramolecular C—H...O interaction [the chelated bipyridyl ligand is nonplanar, with the pyridyl rings inclined at an angle of 13.4 (1)°]. The two metal complexes are linked by dissimilar C—H...O interactions into one‐dimensional chains. The present study demonstrates the distinct effects of two commonly used ligands, viz. 1,10‐phenanthroline and 2,2′‐bipyridine, on the structures of metal complexes and their assembly.     

Kinetics of basic hydrolysis of tris(1,10‐phenanthroline)iron(II) in macromolecular assemblies of CTAB

The kinetics of basic hydrolysis of tris(1,10‐phenanthroline)iron(II) has been carried out in aqueous, N‐cetyl‐N,N,N‐trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) micellar, and CTAB reverse micellar media by UV–visible spectroscopy system. The reaction follows the overall second‐order kinetics; first order in each Fe(II) complex and the base (^?OH). CTAB micelles catalyze the reaction rate through the adsorption of the Fe(II) complex and the hydroxyl ions on the micellar surface. In the reverse micellar medium, interesting physicochemical features are observed. Being ionic nature of reactants, both the reactants prefer to stay and react inside the water pool in place of the hydrophobic environment. The rate increases with w, that is, the size of the water pool, attains a maximum value at w = 8.33, and then decreases. But the rate increases as the concentration of surfactant increases at fixed w values. For a better explanation of the kinetic data, the activation parameters, standard enthalpy of activation (Δ^?H°), standard entropy of activation (Δ^?S°), and energy of activation (E_a) were determined. All kinetic data corroborate the proposed mechanism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 579–589, 2011     

A three‐dimensional net of Δ‐tris(1,10‐phenanthroline)ruthenium(II) in the dual‐metal self‐assembly of bis[tris(1,10‐phenanthroline)ruthenium(II)] tetraisothiocyanatoiron(II) bis(perchlorate)

The title compound, [Ru(C₁₂H₈N₂)₃]₂[Fe(NCS)₄](ClO₄)₂, crystallizes in a tetragonal chiral space group (P4₁2₁2) and the assigned absolute configuration of the optically active molecules was unequivocally confirmed. The Δ‐[Ru^II(phen)₃]²⁺ complex cations (phen is 1,10‐phenanthroline) interact along the 4₁ screw axis parallel to the c axis, with an Ru...Ru distance of 10.4170 (6) Å, and in the ab plane, with Ru...Ru distances of 10.0920 (6) and 10.0938 (6) Å, defining a primitive cubic lattice. The Fe atom is situated on the twofold axis diagonal in the ab plane. The supramolecular architecture is supported by C—H...O interactions between the [Ru^II(phen)₃]²⁺ cation and the disordered perchlorate anion. This study adds to the relatively scarce knowledge about intermolecular interactions between [Ru(phen)₃]²⁺ ions in the solid state, knowledge that eventually may also lead to a better understanding of the solution state interactions of this species; these are of immense interest because of the photochemical properties of these ions and their interactions with DNA.     

Polymerization of acrylamide photoinitiated by tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II)–amine in aqueous solution: Effect of the amine structure

The photopolymerization of acrylamide (AA) initiated by the metallic complex tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium(II) [Ru(bpy)₃⁺²] in the presence of aliphatic and aromatic amines as co‐initiators was investigated in aqueous solution. Aromatic amines, which are good quenchers of the emission of the metal‐to‐ligand‐charge‐transfer excited state of the complex, are more effective co‐initiators than those that do not quench the luminescence of Ru(bpy)₃⁺², such as aliphatic amines and aniline. Laser‐flash photolysis experiments show the presence of the reduced form of the complex, Ru(bpy)₃⁺¹, for all the amines investigated. For aliphatic amines, the yield of Ru(bpy)₃⁺¹ increases with temperature, and on the basis of these experiments, a metal‐centered excited state is proposed as the reactive intermediate in the reaction with these amines. The decay of the transient Ru(bpy)₃⁺¹ is faster in the presence of AA. This may be understood by an electron‐transfer process from Ru(bpy)₃⁺¹ to AA, regenerating Ru(bpy)₃⁺² and producing the radical anion of AA. It is proposed that this radical anion protonates in a fast process to give the neutral AA radical, initiating in this way the polymerization chain. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 4265–4273, 2001     

Prediction of the reduction potential of tris(2,2′‐bipyridinyl)iron(III/II) derivatives

The reduction potentials of a tris(2,2′‐bipyridinyl)iron (III/II) and iron(III/II) couples complexed with 2,2′‐bipyridinyl derivatives in acetonitrile are predicted using density functional theory. The calculation protocol proposed by Kim et al. (Kim, J. Park, Y. S. Lee, J. Comput. Chem. 2013, 34, 2233) showing reliable performance for the reduction potential is used. The four kinds of the functional groups, a methoxy group, a methyl group, a chlorine atom, and a cyanide group, are substituted at the ligands to examine the electronic effect on the reduction potential. Electron donating/withdrawing effect is analyzed by comparing the reduction potential having different substituents at the same position. The influence of the geometrical strain on the reduction potential is investigated. The good correlation between the experimental results and the calculated results is obtained. Not only the general trend, but also the detailed phenomena are correctly reproduced. The maximum deviation from the experimental value is 0.083 V for the methyl substitution at the position 4. The mean absolute error for the seven couples is 0.047 V. The difference of the reduction potential between the chlorine atom substituted at the positions 4 and 5, 0.1 V, is well described. The difference between the CN and the Cl substitution of 0.318 and 0.228 V for the position 4 and 5 is correctly obtained as 0.325 and 0.213 V, respectively. The simple linear relation between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy of the Fe(III) complexes in solution and the calculated reduction potentials is obtained with the R² of 0.977. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Two new dimeric cadmium(II) and zinc(II) sulfate complexes with 2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine and 2,2:6′,2′′‐ter­pyridine

The structures of two new sulfate complexes are reported, namely di‐μ‐sulfato‐κ³O,O′:O′′‐bis{aqua­[2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine‐κ³N¹,N²,N⁶]­cadmium(II)} tetra­hydrate, [Cd₂(SO₄)₂(C₁₆H₁₂N₆)₂(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O, and di‐μ‐sulfato‐κ²O:O′‐bis­[(2,2′:6′,2′′‐ter­pyridine‐κ³N¹,N^1′,N^1′′)­zinc(II)] dihydrate, [Cd₂(SO₄)₂(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)₂]·2H₂O, the former being the first report of a Cd(tpt) complex [tpt is 2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine]. Both compounds crystallize in the space group P and form centrosymmetric dimeric structures. In the cadmium complex, the metal center is heptacoordinated in the form of a pentagonal bipyramid, while in the zinc complex, the metal ion is in a fivefold environment, the coordination geometry being intermediate between square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal. Packing of the dimers leads to the formation of planar structures strongly linked by hydrogen bonding.     

A two‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymer based on 2,4′‐oxybis(benzoate) and 4,4′‐bipyridine

The reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O with 2,4′‐oxybis(benzoic acid) and 4,4′‐bipyridine under hydrothermal conditions produced a new mixed‐ligand two‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymer, namely poly[[(μ‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐κ²N ,N ′)[μ‐2,4′‐oxybis(benzoato)‐κ⁴O ²,O ^2′:O ⁴,O ^4′]copper(II)] monohydrate], {[Cu(C₁₄H₈O₅)(C₁₀H₈N₂)]·H₂O}_n , which was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The X‐ray diffraction crystal structure analysis reveals that the Cu^II ions are connected to form a two‐dimensional wave‐like network through 4,4′‐bipyridine and 2,4′‐oxybis(benzoate) ligands. The two‐dimensional layers are expanded into a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure through intermolecular O—H…O and C—H…O hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that the complex shows weak antiferromagnetic interactions between adjacent Cu^II ions.     

Bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)(dicyanamido)­copper(II) tetrafluoroborate

In the title compound, [Cu(C₂N₃)(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]BF₄, the Cu^II atom shows distorted trigonal‐bipyramidal geometry, with the dicyan­amido ligand in the equatorial plane. The two out‐of‐plane Cu—N bond lengths to bi­pyridine are 2.006 (3) and 1.998 (3) Å, whereas the in‐plane Cu—N distances are 2.142 (3) and 2.043 (3) Å to the bi­pyridine, and 2.015 (3) Å to the dicyan­amide.     

Self‐assembly of amphiphilic tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium‐cored star‐shaped polymers

Amphiphilic tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium‐cored star‐shaped polymers consisting of one polystyrene block and two poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) blocks were prepared by the “arm‐first” method in which RAFT polymerization and nonconvalent ligand–metal complexation were employed. The prepared amphiphilic star‐shaped metallopolymers are able to form micelles in water. The size and distribution of the micelles were studied by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy techniques. Preliminary studies indicate that the polymer concentration and the hydrophilic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) block length can affect the morphologies of the formed metal‐interfaced core–shell micelles in water. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4204–4210, 2007     

Thermal properties of thio-and selenocyanatocopper(II) complexes with bipyridine and phenanthroline

The paper deals with the thermal properties of complex compounds of the general formula CuL₂(NCX)₂ (whereL=bipy or phen,X=S or Se). The phenanthroline complexes exhibit a higher thermal stability than those with bipyridine. For the latter complexes thermal decomposition begins with the release of bipyridine molecules, while for the phenanthroline complexes redox reactions of pseudohalogenide ligands with Cu(II) take place. The redox reactions start at a lower temperature for the selenocyanate complexes than for the thiocyanate complexes.

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Zusammenfassung Vorliegende Arbeit behandelt die thermischen Eigenschaften von Komplexverbindungen der allgemeinen Formel CuL₂(NCX)₂ (mitL=Bipyridin oder Phenanthrolin undX=S oder Se). Die Phenanthrolinkomplexe zeigen eine grössere thermische Stabilität als die Bipyridinkomplexe. Die thermiscne Zersetzung letzterer beginnt mit der Abgabe von Bipyridinmolekülen, während bei den Phenanthrolinkomplexen Redoxreaktionen von Pseudohalogenidliganden·mit Cu(II) stattfinden. Diese Redoxreaktionen beginnen bei den Selenozyanatkomplexen bei niedrigeren Temperaturen als bei den Thiozyanatkomplexen.

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CuL₂(NCX)₂, L= , X= . . , — . - , .

     

4,4′‐Bis(2,2,2‐trifluoroethoxymethyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine

As part of a homologous series of novel polyfluorinated bipyridyl (bpy) ligands, the title compound, C₁₆H₁₄F₆N₂O₂, contains the smallest fluorinated group, viz. CF₃. The molecule resides on a crystallographic inversion centre at the mid‐point of the pyridine C_ipso—C_ipso bond. Therefore, the bpy skeleton lies in an anti conformation to avoid repulsion between the two pyridyl N atoms. Weak intramolecular C—H...N and C—H...O interactions are observed, similar to those in related polyfluorinated bpy–metal complexes. A π–π interaction is observed between the bpy rings of adjacent molecules and this is probably a primary driving force in crystallization. Weak intermolecular C—H...N hydrogen bonding is present between one of the CF₃CH₂– methylene H atoms and a pyridyl N atom related by translation along the [010] direction, in addition to weak benzyl‐type C—H...F interactions to atoms of the terminal CF₃ group. It is of note that the O—CH₂CF₃ bond is almost perpendicular to the bpy plane.     

Synthesis and characterization of tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium‐cored star‐shaped polymers via RAFT polymerization

A new bipyridine‐functionalized dithioester was synthesized and further used as a RAFT agent in RAFT polymerization of styrene and N‐isopropylacrylamide. Kinetics analysis indicates that it is an efficient chain transfer agent for RAFT polymerization of the two monomers which produce polystyrene and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) polymers with predetermined molecular weights and low polydispersities in addition to the end functionality of bipyridine. The bipyridine end‐functionalized polymers were further used as macroligands for the preparation of star‐shaped metallopolymers. Hydrophobic polystyrene macroligand combined with hydrophiphilic poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) was complexed with ruthenium ions to produce amphiphilic ruthenium‐cored star‐shaped metallopolymers. The structures of these synthesized metallopolymers were further elucidated by UV–vis, fluorescence, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as NMR techniques. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4225–4239, 2007     

CEC with tris(2,2′‐bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) electrochemiluminescent detection

For the first time, CEC was coupled with tris(2,2‐bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) ( Ru(bpy) electrochemiluminescence detection. Efficient CEC separations of proline, putrescine, spermidine and spermine were achieved when the pH of the mobile phase is in the range of 3.5–7.0. The optimum mobile phase for CEC separation is much less acidic than that for CZE separation, which matches better with the optimum pH for Ru(bpy) electrochemiluminescence detection and dramatically shortens the analysis time because of larger EOF at higher pH. The time for CEC separation of the polyamines is less than 12.5 min, which is about half as much as the time needed for CZE. The detection limits were 1.7, 0.2, and 0.2 μM for putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, respectively. The RSD of retention time and peak height of these polyamines were less than 0.85 and 6.1%, respectively. The column showed good long‐term stability, and the RSD of retention time is below 5% for 150 runs over one‐month use. The method was successfully used for the determination of polyamines in urine samples.     

Cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) complexes with 4′‐(4‐cyanophenyl)‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine

4′‐Cyanophenyl‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine (cptpy) was employed as an N,N′,N′′‐tridentate ligand to synthesize the compounds bis[4′‐(4‐cyanophenyl)‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine]cobalt(II) bis(tetrafluoridoborate) nitromethane solvate, [Co^II(C₂₂H₁₄N₄)₂](BF₄)₂·CH₃NO₂, (I), and bis[4′‐(4‐cyanophenyl)‐2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine]cobalt(III) tris(tetrafluoridoborate) nitromethane sesquisolvate, [Co^III(C₂₂H₁₄N₄)₂](BF₄)₃·1.5CH₃NO₂, (II). In both complexes, the cobalt ions occupy a distorted octahedral geometry with two cptpy ligands in a meridional configuration. A greater distortion from octahedral geometry is observed in (I), which indicates a different steric consequence of the constrained ligand bite on the Co^II and Co^III ions. The crystal structure of (I) features an interlocked sheet motif, which differs from the one‐dimensional chain packing style present in (II). The lower dimensionality in (II) can be explained by the disturbance caused by the larger number of anions and solvent molecules involved in the crystal structure of (II). All atoms in (I) are on general positions, and the F atoms of one BF₄⁻ anion are disordered. In (II), one B atom is on an inversion center, necessitating disorder of the four attached F atoms, another B atom is on a twofold axis with ordered F atoms, and the C and N atoms of one nitromethane solvent molecule are on a twofold axis, causing disorder of the methyl H atoms. This relatively uncommon study of analogous Co^II and Co^III complexes provides a better understanding of the effects of different oxidation states on coordination geometry and crystal packing.     

A Mössbauer study of some iron(II) complexes with methyl isocyanide,bipyridine and phenanthroline

Summary Mössbauer parameters for hexacoordinate iron(II) complexes of the type [Fe(N-N)_n(CNMe)_m](ClO₄)₂ (m = 6, 4, 2 or 0; n = 0, 1, 2 or 3; N–N = 2, -bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline) have been determined. Treatment by a point-charge model including distortions has been carried out in order to rationalize the quadrupole splittings. A computer program has been developed to handle variable geometry systems.     

Thermal properties of cyanatocopper(II) complexes with pyridine,bipyridine and phenanthroline

The thermal properties of cyanatocopper complexes with pyridine, bipyridine and phenanthroline are described in this paper. It was found that the thermal stabilities of the complexes were found to increase in the order pybipy2(NCS)₂ (L=pyridine and its methyl derivates) which are composed of the liberation of ligandsL and redox reactions of thiocyanate ligands with the central Cu(II) atom [1, 2]. The decomposition temperature of thiocyanate ligands depends on the properties of the ligandsL present in the coordination sphere. An analogous course of thermal decomposition was also observed for [Cu(bipy)₂(NCX)](NCX) (X=S or Se) [3]. For the phenanthroline complexes [Cu(phen)₂(NCX)₂] (X=S or Se) the thermal stability was found to increase significantly (by about 140C) and the decomposition stoichiometry was also changed [3].The present paper contains the results of thermoanalytical studies on bipyridine and phenanthroline cyanatocopper complexes, and a comparison of the thermal properties of pyridine cyanato and isothiocyanatocopper complexes.     

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer with biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetra­carboxylic acid and 4,4′‐bipyridine

A novel cadmium(II) coordination polymer, poly[[[bis­(4,4′‐bipyridine)cadmium(II)]‐μ₃‐4,4′‐dicarboxy­biphenyl‐3,3′‐di­carboxyl­ato] 0.35‐hydrate], {[Cd(C₁₆H₈O₈)(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·0.35H₂O}_n, was obtained by reaction of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·3H₂O, 4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bpy) and biphenyl‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetra­car­boxylic acid (H₄L) under hydro­thermal conditions. Each Cd^II atom lies at the centre of a distorted octa­hedron, coordinated by four O atoms from three H₂L²⁻ ligands and N atoms from two monodentate 4,4′‐bpy ligands. Each H₂L²⁻ ligand coordinates to three Cd^II atoms through two carboxyl­ate groups, one acting as a bridging bidentate ligand and the other in a chelating bidentate fashion. Two Cd atoms, two H₂L²⁻ anions and four 4,4′‐bpy ligands form a ring dimer node, which links into an extended broad zonal one‐dimensional chain along the c axis.     

Ultrasensitive and Signal‐on Electrochemiluminescence Aptasensor Using the Multi‐tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II)‐β‐cyclodextrin Complexes

An ultrasensitive and signal‐on electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor to detect target protein (thrombin or lysozyme) was developed using the host‐guest recognition between a metallocyclodextrin complex and single‐stranded DNA (ss‐DNA). The aptasensor uses both the photoactive properties of the metallocyclodextrins named multi‐tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II)‐β‐cyclodextrin complexes and their specific recognition with ss‐DNA, which amplified the ECL signal without luminophore labeling. After investigating the ECL performance of different multi‐tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II)‐β‐cyclodextrin (multi‐Ru‐β‐CD) complexes, tris‐tris(bipyridine)‐ruthenium(II)‐β‐cyclodextrin (tris(bpyRu)‐β‐CD) was selected as a suitable host molecule to construct an atasensor. First, double‐stranded DNA (ds‐DNA) formed by hybridization of the aptamer and its target DNA was attached to a glassy carbon electrode via coupling interaction, which showed low ECL intensity with 2‐(dibutylamino) ethanol (DBAE) as coreactant, because of the weak recognition between ds‐DNA and tris(bpyRu)‐β‐CD. Upon addition of the corresponding protein, the ECL intensity increased when target ss‐DNA was released because of the higher stability of the aptamer‐protein complex than the aptamer‐DNA one. A linear relationship was observed in the range of 0.01 pmol/L to 100 pmol/L between ECL intensity and the logarithm of thrombin concentrations with a limited detection of 8.5 fmol/L (S/N=3). Meanwhile, the measured concentration of lysozyme was from 0.05 pmol/L to 500 pmol/L and the detection limit was 33 fmol/L (S/N=3). The investigations of proteins in human serum samples were also performed to demonstrate the validity of detection in real clinical samples. The simplicity, high sensitivity and specificity of this aptasensor show great promise for practical applications in protein monitoring and disease diagnosis.     

Bis(4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) ruthenium (II) Complexes Containing 2‐Arylimidazo‐ [4,5‐f] [1,10] phenanthroline: Syntheses,Characterization and Third‐order Nonlinear Optical Properties

Four novel mononuclear ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(dmb)₂L]²⁺ [dmb = 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine, L = imidazo‐[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (IP), 2‐phenylimidazo‐[4,5‐f][1,10]phenanthroline (PIP), 2‐(4′‐hydroxyphenyl)imidazo‐[4,5‐f] [1,10] phenanthroline (HOP), 2‐(4′‐dimethylaminophenyl) imidazo‐[4, 5‐f] [1,10] phenanthroline (DMNP)] were synthesized and characterized by ES‐MS, ¹H NMR, UV‐vis and electrochemistry. The nonlinear optical properties of the ruthenium(II) complexes were investigated by Z‐scan techniques with 12 ns laser pulse at 540 nm, and all of them exhibit both nonlinear optical (NLO) absorption and self‐defocusing effect. The corresponding effective NLO susceptibility |x³| of the complexes is in the range of 2.68 × 10^?12‐4.57 × 10^?12 esu.     

Three lanthanide complexes derived from itaconic acid and 2,2′‐bipyridine

The structures of three new polymeric lanthanide complexes, poly[[bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)‐μ₄‐itaconato‐di‐μ₃‐itaconato‐digadolinium(III)] tetrahydrate], {[Gd₂(C₅H₄O₄)₃(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·4H₂O}_n, (I), poly[diaqua(2,2′‐bipyridine)di‐μ₃‐itaconato‐μ₂‐itaconato‐digadolinium(III)], [Gd₂(C₅H₄O₄)₃(C₁₀H₈N₂)(H₂O)₂]_n, (II), and poly[[bis(2,2′‐bipyridine)‐μ₄‐itaconato‐di‐μ₃‐itaconato‐diholmium(III)] dihydrate], {[Ho₂(C₅H₄O₄)₃(C₁₀H₈N₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, (III), have been solved from twinned specimens. Compound (I) presents a two‐dimensional polymeric structure parallel to (011) built up around two independent nine‐coordinated Gd centres displaying similar GdO₇N₂ environments, with both N‐donor atoms in each provided by a chelating 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) unit. The coordinating O atoms are from three different itaconate (ita) anions (itaconic acid is 2‐methylidenebutanedioic acid). Compound (II) also presents two independent Gd centres (one ten‐ and the other eight‐coordinated), but the overall formula and individual coordinations are different from those of (I). The chemical unit is in this case completed by one bpy ligand, three ita anions (one of them displaying a new, hitherto unreported, μ₃‐O,O′:O′,O′′:O′′′ binding mode) and two aqua ligands. The whole structure is built up around a twofold rotation axis passing through both cations, as well as through the centre of the bpy ligand and one of the ita anions, thus making only half of the chemical unit independent. Finally, compound (III) presents a single independent Ho centre, a bpy unit and one and a half ita anions (one of them bisected by a twofold rotation axis) in the asymmetric unit, plus two (disordered) nonbonded solvent water molecules. In compounds (II) and (III), those ita anions bisected by a symmetry element incompatible with the internal symmetry of the ligand exhibit disorder in the C=CH₂ group.