Reversible Phase Transition of Porous Coordination Polymers

Porous coordination polymers or metal–organic frameworks with reversible phase-transition behavior possess some attractive properties, and can respond to external stimuli, including physical and chemical stimuli, in a dynamic fashion. Their phase transitions can be triggered by adsorption/desorption of guest molecules, temperature changes, high pressure, light irradiation, and electric fields; these mainly include two types of transitions: crystal–amorphous and crystal–crystal transitions. These types of porous coordination polymers have received much attention because of their interesting properties and potential applications. Herein, reversible phase transition porous coordination polymers are summarized and classified based on different stimuli sources. Corresponding typical examples are then introduced. Finally, examples of their applications in gas separation, chemical sensors, guest molecule encapsulation, and energy storage are also presented.     

Partial Hydrolysis of Cyanide Coordination Polymers Induced by a Pillar Ligand with Optimized Electrochemical Kinetics for Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries

Coordination polymers are promising cathode materials for rechargeable alkaline batteries. Therefore, the precise modulation of these cathodes by chemical structure and in-depth structure transform study is necessary. Here, two model coordination polymer battery cathodes were designed to demonstrate the dynamic structure–performance relationship. We studied the electrochemical performance of two kinds of nickel-based coordination polymer, comprising a planar 2D cyanide-bridged network and a 3D cyanide-bridged network pillared by pyrazine molecules. The 2D coordination polymer showed serious voltage degradation with poor rate capability, whereas the 3D coordination polymer exhibited stable voltage output coupled with high rate at various current densities. The investigation revealed the underlining relationship of plateau voltage degradation and hydrolysis process of electrodes. It was revealed that the pyrazine pillar molecules in the 3D coordination polymer could suppress the hydrolysis and lead to the in situ formation of partially hydrolyzed structure with excellent electrochemical kinetics; this exhibited obvious smaller peak separation (27 mV compared with 149 mV) and hence an almost twofold increase in capacity retention (31.9 to 50.0 %) and energy density retention (18.2 to 35.9 %) at 10 A g⁻¹.     

刺激响应型功能聚合物的合成及应用

刺激响应型聚合物是一类功能性聚合物,它在药物控制释放、基因载体、纳米粒子以及纳米反应器等众多领域具有广阔的应用前景,因此引起了越来越多科学工作者的关注。刺激响应型聚合物多为双亲性聚合物,可通过自组装的方式得到形态各异的聚集体,如胶束、囊泡等。在受到某些外界环境刺激时,它们会产生特异性响应,尤其是功能性聚合物嵌段会发生相应的变化,从而引起整个聚合物结构的相转变和体积相转变。根据环境刺激种类的不同,刺激响应型聚合物可以分成不同类型,本文主要介绍了pH、温度、光、分子、电化学和手性等响应型聚合物,并概括了它们的结构特点以及不同的合成方法,简单说明了它们具有刺激响应功能的作用机理,阐述了结构与性能的联系。另外,还介绍了它们的潜在应用,并对此类聚合物的发展前景作了展望。     

Nanoscale MnII‐Coordination Polymers for Cell Imaging and Heterogeneous Catalysis

A mixed ligand approach was exploited to synthesize a new series of Mn^II‐based coordination polymers (CPs), namely, CP1 {[Mn(μ‐dpa)(μ‐4,4′‐bp)]?MeOH}_∞, CP2 {[Mn₃(μ‐dpa)₃(2,2′‐bp)₂]}_∞, CP3 {[Mn₃(μ‐dpa)₃(1,10‐phen)₂]?2 H₂O}_∞, CP4 {[Mn(μ‐dpa)(μ‐4,4′‐bpe)_1.5]?H₂O}_∞, CP5 {[Mn₂(μ‐dpa)₂(μ‐4,4′‐bpe)₂]? DEF}_∞, and CP6 {[Mn(μ‐dpa)(μ‐4,4′‐bpe)_1.5]? DMA}_∞ (dpa=3,5‐dicarboxyphenyl azide, 2,2′‐bp=2,2′‐bipyridine, 1,10‐phen=1,10‐phenanthroline, 4,4′‐bpe=1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene, 4,4′‐bp=4,4′‐bipyridine, DEF=N,N‐diethylformamide, DMA=N,N‐dimethylacetamide), to develop multifunctional CPs. Various techniques, such as single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD), FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis, were employed to fully characterize these CPs. The majority of the CPs displayed a four‐connected sql topology, whereas CP4 and CP6 exhibited a two‐dimensional SnS network architecture, which was further entangled in a polycatenation mode. Compound CP1 displayed an open framework structure. The CPs were scaled down to the nanoregime in a ball mill for cell imaging studies. Whereas CP2 and CP4 were employed for cell imaging with RAW264.7 cells, CP1 was exploited for both cell imaging and heterogeneous catalysis in a cyanosilylation reaction.     

Modulating Inorganic Dimensionality of Ultrastable Lead Halide Coordination Polymers for Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction to Ethanol

Lead halide hybrids have shown great potentials in CO₂ photoreduction, but challenging to afford C₂₊ reduced products, especially using H₂O as the reductant. This is largely due to the trade-off problem between instability of the benchmark 3D structures and low carrier mobility of quasi-2D analogues. Herein, the lead halide dimensionality of robust coordination polymers (CP) was modulated by organic ligands differing in a single-atom change (NH vs. CH₂), in which the NH groups coordinate with interlamellar [PbI₂] clusters to achieve the important 2D→3D transition. This first CP based on 3D cationic lead iodide sublattice possesses both high aqueous stability and a low exciton binding energy of 25 meV that is on the level of ambient thermal energy, achieving artificial photosynthesis of C₂H₅OH. Photophysical studies combined with theoretical calculations suggest the bridging [PbI₂] clusters in the 3D structure not only results in enhanced carrier transport, but also promotes the intrinsic charge polarization to facilitate the C−C coupling. With trace loading of Rh cocatalyst, the apparent quantum efficiency of the 3D CP reaches 1.4 % at 400 nm with a high C₂H₅OH selectivity of 89.4 % (product basis), which presents one of the best photocatalysts for C₂ products to date.     

Coordination Polymers Derived from Non‐Steroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs for Cell Imaging and Drug Delivery

A new series of Mn^II coordination polymers, namely, [{Mn(L)(H₂O)₂} ? 2 Nap]_∞ ( CP1 ), [{Mn(L)(Ibu)₂(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP2 ), [{Mn(L)(Flr)₂(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP3 ), [{Mn(L)(Ind)₂(H₂O)₂} ? H₂O]_∞ ( CP4 ), [{Mn₂(L)₂(μ‐Flu)₄(H₂O)} ? L]_∞ ( CP5 ), [{Mn₂(L)₂(μ‐Tol)₄(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP6) and [{Mn₂(L)₂(μ‐Mef)₄(H₂O)₂}]_∞ ( CP7 ) (Nap=naproxen, Ibu=ibuprofen, Flr=flurbiprofen, Ind=indometacin, Flu=flufenamic acid, Tol=tolfenamic acid and Mef=mefenamic acid) derived from various non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the organic linker 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene (L) have been synthesized with the aim of being used for cell imaging and drug delivery. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD) studies revealed that the NSAID molecules were part of the coordination polymeric network either through coordination to the metal center (in the majority of the cases) or through hydrogen bonding. Remarkably, all the Mn^II coordination polymers were found to be soluble in DMSO, thereby making them particularly suitable for the desired biological applications. Two of the coordination polymers (namely, CP1 and CP3 ) reported herein, were found to be photoluminescent both in the solid as well as in the solution state. Subsequent experiments (namely, MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide), and PGE₂ (prostaglandin E₂) assays) established their biocompatibility and anti‐inflammatory response. In vitro studies by using a macrophage cell line (i.e., RAW 264.7) revealed that both CP1 and CP3 were excellent cell imaging agents. Finally, biodegradability studies under simulated physiological conditions in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.6 showed that slow and sustained release of the corresponding NSAID was indeed possible from both CP1 and CP3 .     

Encapsulation and Release Mechanisms in Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles

The interplay of guest encapsulation and release mechanisms in nanoscale metal–organic vehicles and its effect on the drug‐delivery kinetics of these materials were investigated through a new multidisciplinary approach. Two rationally‐designed molecular guests were synthesized, which consist of a red‐fluorescent benzophenoxazine dye covalently tethered to a coordinating catechol group and a protected, non‐coordinating catechol moiety. This allowed loading of the guests into compositionally and structurally equivalent coordination polymer particles through distinct encapsulation mechanisms: coordination and mechanical entrapment. The two types of particles delivered their fluorescent cargo with remarkably different kinetic profiles, which could be satisfactorily modeled considering degradation‐ and diffusion‐controlled release processes. This demonstrates that careful selection of the method of guest incorporation into coordination polymer nanoparticles allows selective tuning of the rate of drug delivery from these materials and, therefore, of the time window of action of the encapsulated therapeutic agents.     

Nanometrization of Lanthanide‐Based Coordination Polymers

Heteronuclear lanthanide‐based coordination polymers are microcrystalline powders, the luminescence properties of which can be precisely tuned by judicious choice of the rare‐earth ions. In this study, we demonstrate that such materials can also be obtained as stable solutions of nanoparticles in non‐toxic polyols. Bulk powders of the formula [Ln_2?2xLn′_2x(bdc)₃ ? 4 H₂O]_∞ (where H₂bdc denotes 1,4‐benzene‐dicarboxylic acid, 0≤x≤1, and Ln and Ln′ denote lanthanide ions of the series La to Tm plus Y) afford nanoparticles that have been characterized by dynamic light‐scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. Their luminescence properties are similar to those of the bulk materials. Stabilities versus time and versus dilution with another solvent have been studied. This study has revealed that it is possible to tune the size of the nanoparticles. This process offers a reliable means of synthesizing suspensions of nanoparticles with tunable luminescence properties and tunable size distributions in a green solvent (glycerol). The process is also extendable to other coordination polymers and other solvents (ethylene glycol, for example). It constitutes a new route for the facile solubilization of lanthanide‐based coordination polymers.     

Gd Doped Hollow Nanoscale Coordination Polymers as Multimodal Imaging Agents and a Potential Drug Delivery Carriers

Gd doped hollow nanoscale coordination polymers with multimodal imaging capabilities were synthesized by solvothermal method and further coated by silica layer. The \begin{document}$in$\end{document} \begin{document}$vitro$\end{document} tests demonstrated uncoated and silica-coated nanoprobes exhibit longitudinal relaxivities (\begin{document}$r_1$\end{document}) of 7.38 and 13.57 (mmol/L)\begin{document}$^{-1}$\end{document}\begin{document}$\cdot$\end{document}s\begin{document}$^{-1}$\end{document}, and transverse relaxivities (\begin{document}$r_2$\end{document}) of 180.6 and 304.8 (mmol/L)\begin{document}$^{-1}$\end{document}\begin{document}$\cdot$\end{document}s\begin{document}$^{-1}$\end{document}, showing fairly good dual T1&T2 contrast effects, and it also emits excellent multicolor fluorescence under laser beams of various wavelengths. With the combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (both T1 and T2) and fluorescence optical imaging (FOI), the nanoprobes could correlate preoperative diagnosis with intraoperative pathology. Furthermore, it also exhibits high drug loading capacity of 1166 mg/g and encapsulation efficiency of 83.29%, which makes it a potential platform as drug carriers. The MTT assay demonstrates the moderate toxicity of the NPs, and after the silica coating process, not only the MRI contrast effects but also the biocompatibility have been enhanced. The versatility of the highly integrated systems can make up for the limitations of each imaging modality and exhibit great potentials for cancer theranostics.     

A New Dimension for Coordination Polymers and Metal–Organic Frameworks: Towards Functional Glasses and Liquids

There are two categories of coordination polymers (CPs): inorganic CPs (i‐CPs) and organic ligand bridged CPs (o‐CPs). Based on the successful crystal engineering of CPs, we here propose noncrystalline states and functionalities as a new research direction for CPs. Control over the liquid or glassy states in materials is essential to obtain specific properties and functions. Several studies suggest the feasibility of obtaining liquid/glassy states in o‐CPs by design principles. The combination of metal ions and organic bridging ligands, together with the liquid/glass phase transformation, offer the possibility to transform o‐CPs into ionic liquids and other ionic soft materials. Synchrotron measurements and computational approaches contribute to elucidating the structures and dynamics of the liquid/glassy states of o‐CPs. This offers the opportunity to tune the porosity, conductivity, transparency, and other material properties. The unique energy landscape of liquid/glass o‐CPs offers opportunities for properties and functions that are complementary to those of the crystalline state.     

Insights on Luminescent Micro- and Nanospheres of Infinite Coordination Polymers

Coordination polymers have been extensively studied in recent years. Some of these materials can exhibit several properties such as permanent porosity, high surface area, thermostability and light emission, as well as open sites for chemical functionalization. Concerning the fact that this kind of compounds are usually solids, the size and morphology of the particles are important parameters when an application is desired. Inside this context, there is a subclass of coordination polymers, named infinite coordination polymers (ICPs), which auto-organize as micro- or nanoparticles with low crystallinity. Specifically, the particles exhibiting spherical shapes and reduced sizes can be better dispersed, enter cells much easier than bulk crystals and be converted to inorganic materials by topotactic transformation. Luminescent ICPs, in particular, can find applications in several areas, such as sensing probes, light-emitting devices and bioimaging. In this review, we present the state-of-the-art of ICP-based spherical particles, including the growth mechanisms, some applications for luminescent ICPs and the challenges to overcome in future commercial usage of these materials.     

无机金属聚合物合成及性能研究

本文报道了三类新型的无机金属聚合物—原子簇聚合物、金属配聚物和金属有机／金属配聚物的结构和性能。     

Microwave‐Assisted Modular Fabrication of Nanoscale Luminescent Metal‐Organic Framework for Molecular Sensing

Miniaturizing the size of metal‐organic framework (MOF) crystals to the nanometer scale is challenging, but it provides more advanced applications without changing the characteristic features itself. It is especially useful to investigate the correlation between the porous properties and the interfacial structures of nanocrystals. Using amino acids as capping agents, nanoscale Tb‐MOF‐76 is fabricated rapidly by means of microwave‐assisted methods. Both the modular effects of the amimo acids and the acid–base environment of the reaction medium have an important impact on the morphologies and dimensions of Tb‐MOF‐76. The structures of the samples are confirmed by powder X‐ray diffraction, and the morphologies are characterized by SEM. Photoluminescence studies reveal that these Tb‐MOF‐76 materials exhibit a green emission corresponding to the transition ⁵D₄→⁷F_J of Tb³⁺ ions under UV‐light excitation, which is sensitive to small organic molecules in solution.     

Bone Tissue Disorders: Healing Through Coordination Chemistry

Osteoporosis, Paget's disease and osteosarcoma are a few examples of bone tissue disorders that affect millions of people worldwide. These conditions can strictly limit the lifestyle of patients and may even lead to their demise. To prevent this or, at least, try to manage the situation, there are several treatments available on the market. Notwithstanding, research has been driven by the possibility to improve the existing therapies, as well as to find new approaches that could better respond to these diseases. In this Review the path is shown through which, in recent years, coordination compounds have been prepared and manufactured to be applied in the management of bone tissue disorders. Starting with the design and preparation of the coordination compounds with various dimensionalities, two approaches have been used: (1) they are prepared as three-dimensional cages that can act as delivery systems for therapeutic substances, or (2) they are constructed/prepared from compounds with intrinsic therapeutic properties. Following this, several strategies have been explored to manufacture the effective delivery to the patients. The versatility of coordination compounds has allowed their use in the preparation of drug tablets, coatings for titanium implants, or even scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. In the end, it becomes clear that these compounds can be a valuable approach to reach a better treatment for bone tissue disorders. Nonetheless, along the road, a few bumps have appeared concerning the therapeutic profile, such as the effect of the structural arrangement or particle size.     

Synthesis,Structure and Photoluminescence of Two Zinc Carboxylate Polymers with Different Coordination Architectures

Introduction　　Thesynthesisofmetal organicpolymershasundoubt edlybeenatopicofspecialinterestduetotheirhost guestinteractionswhichhavebeentailoredtoavarietyofindus trialprocessessuchascatalysis ,adsorptionandgassepa ration .1 5Sofar ,manyeffortshavebeendedicatedtotheexplorationofmetal organicframeworkmaterialsbuiltupfrommetallicclustersandrigidorganicbuildingblocks .Thisstrategy ,asreportedbythegroupsofRobson ,6Yaghi7 11andothers ,utilizesrigidorganiclinkersfordi rectlylinkingthemetalclusters…     

Functional Polymers for Targeted Delivery of Nucleic Acid Drugs

Cationic polymers have been chemically modified with a variety of targeting molecules such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, sugars and vitamins for targeted delivery of nucleic acid drugs to specific cells. Stimuli‐sensitive polymers exhibiting different size, charge and conformation in response to physiological signals from specific cells have also been utilized for targeted delivery. To achieve target‐specific delivery of nucleic acids, conjugation chemistry is critical to produce stable nanosized polyplexes tethered with cell‐recognizable ligands for facile cellular uptake via a receptor‐mediated endocytic pathway. In this review, synthetic strategies of functional cationic polymers with various targeting ligands are presented.

     

Recent Advances and Future Prospects of Aggregation‐induced Emission Carbohydrate Polymers

Aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) is an abnormal phenomenon that has sparked great attention for diverse applications in different fields. In particular, the fabrication and biological imaging applications of AIE‐active fluorescent organic nanoparticles (FONs) have become a focus in the emerging and promising fields. A large number of AIE‐active polymeric nanoprobes have recently been fabricated through different strategies. The advances and progress in this direction have also recently been summarized by some groups. However, the fabrication and biomedical applications of AIE‐active FONs based on carbohydrate polymers and AIE‐active dyes are quite rare and limited. In this feature article, the recently reported AIE‐active FONs with different structures and applications based on AIE‐active dyes and carbohydrate polymers are highlighted, and the major current limitations and development tendencies are also discussed.

     

Synthesis of Chiral Labtb and Visualization of Its Enantiomeric Excess by Induced Circular Dichroism Imaging

Crystalline particles of a microporous, robust, and chiral metal–organic framework (MOF) were synthesized and their enantiomer excess (ee) was visualized for each microparticle by CD imaging. Labtb, a thermally and chemically robust MOF, was employed in this study because it shows a chiral space group. Although Labtb has been obtained as a racemic conglomerate, enantioselective synthesis of Labtb was achieved via a chiral precursor complex consisting of lanthanum and homochiral phenylalanine. Methyl orange (MO) was introduced into the micropores of chiral Labtb, which showed a strong induced CD signal for the absorption band of MO chromophores. High ee of the chiral Labtb was revealed by microscopic CD observation at the particle-level. This result provides a facile way to obtain a robust MOF that has chiral nanospace.