Metal‐Ion Induced In Situ Ligand Oxidation for Self‐Assembled Clusters: from Bis(5‐(2‐pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐yl)methane to Alcohol or Ketone

Hydrothermal reactions of metal nitrates and ligand bis(5‐(pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)methane (H₂L¹) gave three cluster compounds, {Cr₂}, {Zn₁₂} and {Fe₈}. Notably, methylene group of H₂L¹ was in situ oxidized either to hydroxymethylated (L²‐O)³⁻ in the metallo‐ring {Zn₁₂} or to a rigid carbonylated (L³=O)²⁻ in the screw‐type {Fe₈}. In light of comparative experimental results, NO₃⁻ was deduced to be of a catalytic role in the ligand oxidation. Metal ion could be regarded as an “induced” tool for clusters generation in self‐assembly process.