Supramolecular architectures of metal–organic host–guest compounds

Metal?Corganic frameworks are a class of materials with new and interesting properties (Angew Chem Int Ed 43:2334, 2004; Coorg Chem Rev 38:1213, 2009; Adv Mater 23:249, 2011). In particular, porous metal organic systems are attracting considerable interest because of their potential use as sensors, catalysts and, in general, in host?Cguest chemistry (Acc Chem Res 43:1115, 2010). The so-called ??wheel and axle?? compounds play an important role in the developing of supramolecular chemistry and there are a lot of studies dealing with their inclusion properties and host?Cguest chemistry (Comprehensive supramolecular chemistry, 1996). Classical ??wheel and axle?? molecules have a long, thin, central part (the axle) with two bulky ends (the wheels). Here, new compounds with host properties are described, that we called ??wheel and axle metal?Corganic?? diols (WAMOD), that are decorated with OH groups in the wheel. In particular, their clathration properties are discussed in connection with their crystal structures. A modular strategy is applied to obtain WAMODs: coordination chemistry is used together with soft interactions (H-bond, ?ШC?? interaction), with the aim to realize a dynamic framework that is able to reversibly capture and release a guest. The coordination bond is robust and permits to obtain WAMODs with different arrangements of the axle; the hydrogen bonds and/or the other soft interactions are responsible for the thin adjustments in the crystal packing that allow reversible adsorption/desorption of the guest.     

Self-assembly of metal–ligand coordinated charged vesicles

This review compiles recent research and developments on the metal–ligand coordinated charged vesicles, focusing on the phase behavior, properties, microstructures, and vesicle-phases of metal–ligand complexation as templating preparation of inorganic nanoparticles. Moreover, the other kind of salt-free vesicles, constructed by the electrostatic interaction with zero-charged ones were simply also compared with those constructed by the metal–ligand coordinated complexes with charged molecular membranes in the properties, the phase behaviors, and the microstructures.     

Synthesis–structure correlations of manganese–cobalt mixed metal oxide nanoparticles

Mixed metal oxides in the nanoscale are of great interest for many aspects of energy related research topics as water splitting, fuel cells and battery technology. The development of scalable, cost-efficient and robust synthetic routes toward well-defined solid state structures is a major objective in this field.While monometallic oxides have been studied in much detail, reliable synthetic recipes targeting specific crystal structures of mixed metal oxide nanoparticles are largely missing. Yet, in order to meet the requirements for a broad range of technical implementation it is necessary to tailor the properties of mixed metal oxides to the particular purpose. Here, we present a study on the impact of the nature of the gas environment on the resulting crystal structure during a post-synthesis thermal heat treatment of manganese–cobalt oxide nanoparticles. We monitor the evolution of the crystal phase structure as the gas atmosphere is altered from pure nitrogen to synthetic air and pure oxygen. The particle size and homogeneity of the resulting nanoparticles increase with oxygen content, while the crystal structure gradually changes from rocksalt-like to pure spinel. We find the composition of the particles to be independent of the gas atmosphere. The manganese–cobalt oxide nanoparticles exhibited promising electrocatalytic activity regarding oxygen evolution in alkaline electrolyte. These findings offer new synthesis pathways for the direct preparation of versatile utilizable mixed metal oxides.     

Investigation of metal–buffer interactions using isothermal titration calorimetry

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and potentiometric titration (PT) methods were used to study the interactions of cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions with buffer substances 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (Mes), dimethylarsenic acid (Caco), and piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (Pipes). Based on the results of PT data, the stability constants were calculated for the metal–buffer complexes (T = 298.15 K, ionic strength I = 100 mM NaClO₄). Furthermore, calorimetric measurements (ITC) were run in 100 mM Mes, Caco, and Pipes solutions with pH 6, at 298.15 K. The enthalpies (ΔH) of the metal–buffer complexation reactions were calculated indirectly by displacement titration using nitrilotriacetic acid (H₃NTA) as a strong-binding, competitive ligand. Finally, to verify obtained results, the number of protons released by H₃NTA due to complexation of the cobalt(II) and nickel(II) ions was determined from calorimetric data and compared with results of calculations.     

In situ construction of metal–organic sulfur-containing heterocycle frameworks

This review outlines three types of in situ methods used for constructing metal–organic sulfur-containing heterocycle frameworks, viz., in situ S–S function reactions, in situ C–S bond cleavage and in situ thiol-S atom reactions. Each method is described in detail in three respects, namely (i) reaction parameters, (ii) the organic transformation and coordination modes involved, and (iii) fascinating structures and functional properties of those in situ-generated metal-coordination compounds.     

Two-dimensional nanosheets of metal–organic frameworks with tailorable morphologies

The controlled preparation of two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), with tailorable methodologies, properties, and applications, is of significant importance. Here, in this work, by subtle control of the ultrasonic duration and solvent polarity, the iron(II)-based 2D MOF Fe(pyz)₂Cl₂ (pyz = pyrazine) has been elegantly tailored into 2D nanosheets (lateral size ≥500 nm in aqueous, with ultrasonic duration of 30 min) and one-dimensional (1D) nanoribbons (lateral size ≤100 nm in ethanol solution, with ultrasonic duration of 90 min). The aqueous suspension of 2D nanosheets was featured with thermal-induced spin-state transition at around room temperature and can be used as effective Fenton catalysts for degradation of water-soluble organic dyes, whereas the ethanol suspension of 1D nanoribbons can act as a versatile nanoplatform for trans-to-cis isomerization of 4, 4′-azopyridine. These results may provide a novel strategy for the controlled preparation of layered nanomaterials.     

Plasmonics for the study of metal ion–protein interactions

The study of metal–protein interactions is an expanding field of research investigated by bioinorganic chemists as it has wide applications in biological systems. Very recently, it has been reported that it is possible to study metal–protein interactions by immobilizing biomolecules on metal surfaces and applying experimental approaches based on plasmonics which have usually been used to investigate protein–protein interactions. This is possible because the electronic structure of metals generates plasmons whose properties can be exploited to obtain information from biomolecules that interact not only with other molecules but also with ions in solution. One major challenge of such approaches is to immobilize the protein to be studied on a metal surface with preserved native structure. This review reports and discusses all the works that deal with such an expanding new field of application of plasmonics with specific attention to surface plasmon resonance, highlighting the advantages and drawbacks of such approaches in comparison with other experimental techniques traditionally used to study metal–protein interactions.

Redox-active metal–metal bonds between lanthanides in dimetallofullerenes

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Solid–liquid equilibrium and thermochemical studies of organic analogue of metal–nonmetal system: Succinonitrile–pentachloronitrobenzene

The phase diagram of an organic analogue of a metal–nonmetal system, involving succinonitrile–pentachloronitrobenzene, shows the formation of a eutectic and a monotectic. The two immiscible liquid phases are in equilibrium with a single liquid phase and the consolute temperature being 53.5 °C above the monotectic horizontal. The phase equilibrium study confirms the alloy composition of monotectic and eutectic at 0.150 and 0.985 mol fractions of succinonitrile, respectively. The solidification behaviour shows the validity of Hilling–Turnbull equation. The thermal properties such as heat of mixing, entropy of fusion, roughness parameter, interfacial energy, grain boundary energy and excess thermodynamic functions for parent components, monotectic and eutectic have been studied using their enthalpy of fusion values. The effects of solid–liquid interfacial energy on morphological change of monotectic have also been discussed. The microstructure of monotectic shows the lamellar growth along with droplets, however, eutectic infers the vertical growth of lamella.     

Metallophosphoranes: The hidden face of transition metal–phosphine complexes

Reactions in which metallophosphoranes, of general formula L_nMPR₄, have been implicated as intermediates or possible transition states are reviewed. Such species can be accessed via nucleophilic attack on metal–phosphine complexes, with the source of nucleophile being either external or internal in the form of an anionic co-ligand. The reverse process, transfer of a group from a {PR₄} ligand to a metal, has also been observed with the formation of a metal phosphine. Thus metallophosphoranes have been postulated to play a role in isomerization processes and novel M–X/P–R exchange reactions. Metallophosphoranes have also been implicated in unusual ‘phosphine-assisted C–F bond activation’ reactions. Recent computational studies on these processes are discussed.     

Construction of M–M bonds in late transition metal complexes

The 16-electron Co, Rh and Ir half-sandwich complexes of Cp^#M[E₂C₂(B₁₀H₁₀)] and Cp^#M(E₂S₂C₆H₄) (M = Co, Rh, Ir, Ru; E = S, Se) containing chelating 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dichalcogenolato ligands and benzenedithiolato ligands are promising precursors to build multimetallic clusters by reactions with low oxidation state late transition metal reagents. Such reactions lead to successful constructions of M–M bonds between iridium, rhodium, cobalt, ruthenium, and other late transition metals. Most of these complexes have been characterized by X-ray single crystal determinations and some have been studied by computational methods. Such theoretical studies reveal the covalent bonding nature of those multinuclear complexes. Some of these clusters have been found to have interesting nonlinear optical properties.     

Li–air batteries:air stability of lithium metal anodes

Aprotic rechargeable lithium–air batteries(LABs) with an ultrahigh theoretical energy density(3,500 Wh kg^-1) are known as the‘holy grail’ of energy storage systems and could replace Li-ion batteries as the next-generation high-capacity batteries if a practical device could be realized. However, only a few researches focus on the battery performance and reactions in the ambient air environment, which is a major obstacle to promote the practical application of LABs. Here, we have summar...     

The application of Bimetallic metal–organic frameworks for antibiotics adsorption

Fe/Zr-base metal–organic frameworks(Fe/Zr-MOFs) were prepared using a solvothermal method from 1,3,5-phthalic acid (H₃BTC, 98 %) as the organic chain and ferrous heptahydrate (FeSO₄·7H₂O) and zirconium acetate Zr(CH₃COO)₄] as the metal ions. The resulting material was used to remove Doxycycline hydrochloride (DC). The experimental results showed that when the concentration of DC was 10 ppm and the mass of Zr/Fe-MOFs was 100 mg, the maximum removal rate after 5 h was 87.5 %. The results showed that the correlation coefficients (R²) of the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Freundlich isotherm model of Zr/Fe-MOFs adsorption of DC were greater than 0.99, indicating good consistency. The results showed that the adsorption process of DC by Zr/Fe-MOFs was endothermic and spontaneous. Fe/Zr-MOFs had a high adsorption capacity for DC removal and good application prospects.     

DNA modified with metal complexes: Applications in the construction of higher order metal–DNA nanostructures

DNA has recently emerged as a useful building block for higher order nanostructures, such as extended two-dimensional surfaces and discrete two- and three-dimensional structures. Transition metal complexes can introduce functionality to these otherwise passive nanostructures. This review examines the synthetic strategies used to introduce metals in a site-specific manner to DNA: either by attaching preformed metal complexes to DNA, or by metal coordination to unmodified or modified DNA. The applications of metal–DNA complexes in building higher order nanostructures and the utility of attaching luminescent or electrochemical labels are discussed.     

Pb（NO3）2 Mediated Synthesis of Pyrazine

Lead nitrate was used as an efficient catalyst in the oxidation and condensation reaction of hydroxy ketone with diamine leading to the formation of pyrazine derivatives in excellent yields.     

Structural variability of Ag(I) metal–organic networks: C–H⋯π and metal⋯π interactions

The synthesis and X-ray structural characterization of two silver(I) coordination polymers, [Ag₂(bpp)₂(Phdac)]·5H₂O (1) and [Ag₂(bpp)(HSSal)] (2), are reported, where bpp = 4,4′-trimethylene dipyridine, H₂Phdac = 1,4-phenylenediacetic acid, and H₃SSal = 5-sulfosalicylic acid. X-ray crystallography reveals that the structures are stabilized through hydrogen bonding interactions. The C–H?π and metal?π interactions of aromatic molecules play a crucial role in building a layered framework. Intricate combinations of the weak non-covalent interactions have been analyzed to explore cooperativity and competitiveness in the solid-state structures.     

Using TG–FTIR and TG–MS to study thermal degradation of metal hypophosphites

Three typical metal hypophosphite flame retardants La(H₂PO₂)₃·H₂O (LHP), Ce(H₂PO₂)₃·H₂O (CHP), and Al(H₂PO₂)₃ (AHP) were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TG), derivative thermogravimetric analysis, and differential thermal analysis. The thermal degradation products from the synthesized metal hypophosphites were also investigated using thermogravimetry coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TG–FTIR) and thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry (TG–MS). The synthesized metal hypophosphites were also used as flame retardants for poly (1,4-butylene terephthalate) (PBT), and the combustion properties of flame-retarded PBT were evaluated using the limiting oxygen index and UL-94 tests. The results showed that the metal hypophosphites LHP, CHP, and AHP can be used as effective flame retardants for PBT, and these compounds can be obtained through a simple precipitation method. TG–FTIR and TG–MS results showed that the degradation process of AHP involves two steps, corresponding to the removal PH₃ reaction and the further dehydration reaction of the hydrogen phosphate aluminum. While LHP and CHP have three degradation steps, the additional step is due to that LHP and CHP which will loss the crystal water at lower temperature.