A New Basic Motif in Cyanometallate Coordination Polymers: Structure and Magnetic Behavior of M(μ-OH2)2[Au(CN)2]2 (M=Cu, Ni)

Roles of Water Molecules in the Structures and Magnetic Properties of Coordination Polymers with a Dicarboxylate Ligand

Three new coordination polymers, {[M(nbpdc)(DMF)(H2O)2]·H2O}∞ (M = Co and Ni) and [Zn(nbpdc)(DMF)(H2O)]∞, were synthesized from 2-nitrobiphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate (nbpdc2-). The isomorphous Co(II) and Ni(II) compounds exhibited a two-dimensional coordination network in which the chains with single-water bridges and the chains with single-nbpdc2- bridges intersected each other by sharing the metal ions. The coordination networks were connected with uncoordinated water molecules through hydrogen bonds. The rarely identified single-water-bridged coordination chain was reinforced by water-based intrachain hydrogen bonds. The single-water bridges mediated modest antiferromagnetic superexchange in both Co(II) and Ni(II) compounds and afforded a spin-canting structure for the Co(II) compound at low temperatures. Water molecules played a distinct structural role in the Zn(II) compound, which was a one-dimensional coordination polymer with single-nbpdc2- bridges. Instead of bridging metal ions, each water molecule was coordinated to one metal ion and hydrogen-bonded to the coordination spheres of other two metal ions, resulting to an infinite ladderlike hydrogen-bonding motif. The ladders interlinked the nbpdc-bridged chains into a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture featuring the 5-conneted {44.64} net.

Vapochromic behaviour of a gold(I)-lead(II) complex as a VOC sensor

The reaction among [Au2Ag2(C6F5)4(OEt2)2]n, PbCl2 and terpyridine leads to the polymeric complex [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)}]n (1). Its crystal structure reveals potential voids close to the lead centres large enough to hold different molecules. The availability of these free sites allows complex 1 to act as a VOC sensor. Thus, when 1 is exposed to different solvent vapours such as acetonitrile, toluene or THF, variations in its solid appearance and its photophysical properties are observed as a consequence of the formation of the new polymorphs [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)(CH3CN)2}]n (2), [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)}]n·Tol (3) and [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)(THF)}]n·THF (4). Each polymorph displays a different emission energy depending on its structure and the presence of metallophilic interactions. In addition, the reversible solvent molecule exchange allows the tuning of the luminescence emissions in the greenish yellow-red range. DFT and TD-DFT calculations were performed to explain the origin of the luminescence of all these complexes.

Expanding uranyl dicyanoaurate coordination polymers into the second and third dimensions

The solvothermal synthesis and characterization of a three-dimensional, interpenetrated uranyl dicyanoaurate coordination polymer, K2(UO2)2(UO2)2(Au(CN)2)2(O)2(NO3)4, from UO2(NO3)2·6H2O and KAu(CN)2 is described. The structure contains a three-dimensional (3D) lattice of planar tetranuclear uranyl–oxo–nitrate clusters connected by dicyanoaurate linkers, with the rotation of the clusters providing the increased dimensionality. The material undergoes a reversible single-crystal to single-crystal transformation on exposure to water vapour, which is taken up in the channels of the 3D system. A second uranyl dicyanoaurate coordination polymer of the form [UO2(DMSO)3(H2O)(Au(CN)2)][Au(CN)2] was structurally characterized as a linear chain of dicyanoaurate units connected by gold–gold bonds with pendant uranyl–water–DMSO adducts that are hydrogen bonded into a two-dimensional sheet. Both materials exhibit emission arising from both the uranyl moiety and the gold(I) centre and represent the first multidimensional uranyl–dicyanoaurate coordination polymers.

Heterobimetallic complexes from 0D clusters to 3D networks based on various polycyanometallates and [Cu(dmpn)2]2+ (dmpn = 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane): synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties

Six new cyanide-bridged complexes (0–3D) have been assembled by employing one copper compound and six cyano precursors. Investigation of the magnetic properties revealed the ferro- or antiferromagnetic coupling between Fe^III/Cr^I ion and Cu^II ion.

Dicyanoaurate-based heterobimetallic uranyl coordination polymers

The first series of uranyl ([UO₂]²⁺)-dicyanoaurate coordination polymers and molecular complexes has been synthesized. Reactions of [A][Au(CN)₂] (A = [ⁿBu₄N]⁺ or [(Ph₃P)₂N]⁺ ([PPN])) and uranyl nitrate in alcoholic solvents in ambient light led to [A]₂[(UO₂)₂(μ-η²:η²-O₂)(NO₃)₂(μ-Au(CN)₂)₂], which incorporates peroxo ligands into a one-dimensional ladder topology with alternating aurophilic and peroxo rungs. Conducting the reaction with non-alcoholic solvents formed two polymorphs of a one-dimensional chain, [PPN][UO₂(NO₃)₂Au(CN)₂], from acetone, and a molecular analogue, [PPN]₂[UO₂(NO₃)₂(Au(CN)₂)₂], from acetonitrile, none of which exhibited aurophilic interactions. The addition of 2,2'-bipyridine to the initial reaction resulted in [UO₂(bipy)(MeO)(MeOH)]₂[(μ-Au(CN)₂)(Au(CN)₂)], a one-dimensional structure which propagates via a series of linear aurophilic bonds with pendant uranyl complexes; methanol and methoxy ligands provide additional connections through hydrogen bonding. The addition of 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine using solvothermal conditions resulted in the one-dimensional ladder [UO₂(Me₂bipy)Au(CN)₂]₂[(μ-OH)₂], generated through aurophilic bonds and hydroxide ligands. The incorporation of 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) using solvothermal conditions resulted in [[UO₂(terpy)]₂(μ-NO₃)(μ-O)][Au(CN)₂], a molecular salt with no aurophilic interactions. Emission spectra attributable to aurophilic interactions are observed in [ⁿBu₄N]₂[(UO₂)₂(μ-η²:η²-O₂)(NO₃)₂(μ-Au(CN)₂)₂], while all others only show emission typical of the uranyl cation.

Radical-involved photosynthesis of AuCN oligomers from Au nanoparticles and acetonitrile

We show here the first radical route for the direct photosynthesis of AuCN oligomers with different sizes and shapes, as evidenced by TEM observations, from an Au nanoparticle/benzaldehyde/CH(3)CN ternary system in air under UV-light irradiation. This photochemical route is green, mild, and universal, which makes itself distinguishable from the common cyanidation process. Several elementary reaction steps, including the strong C-C bond dissociation of CH(3)CN and subsequent •CN radical addition to Au, have been suggested to be critical in the formation of AuCN oligomers based on the identification of •CN radical by in situ EPR and the radical trapping technique, and other reaction products by GC-MS and (1)H NMR, and DFT calculations. The resulting solid-state AuCN oligomers exhibit unique spectroscopic characters that may be a result of the shorter Au-Au distances (namely, aurophilicity) and/or special polymer-like structures as compared with gold cyanide derivatives in the aqueous phase. The nanosized AuCN oligomers supported on mesoporous silica showed relatively good catalytic activity on the homogeneous annulation of salicylaldehyde with phenylacetylene to afford isoflavanones employing PBu(3) as the cocatalyst under moderate conditions, which also serves as evidence for the successful production of AuCN oligomers.

Vapochromic behaviour of M[Au(CN)2]2-based coordination polymers (M = Co, Ni)

A series of M[Au(CN)₂]₂(analyte)_x coordination polymers (M = Co, Ni; analyte = dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), pyridine; x = 2 or 4) was prepared and characterized. Addition of analyte vapours to solid M(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂ yielded visible vapochromic responses for M = Co but not M = Ni; the IR ν_CN spectral region changed in every case. A single crystal structure of Zn[Au(CN)₂]₂(DMSO)₂ revealed a corrugated 2-D layer structure with cis-DMSO units. Reacting a Ni(II) salt and K[Au(CN)₂] in DMSO yielded the isostructural Ni[Au(CN)₂]₂(DMSO)₂ product. Co[Au(CN)₂]₂(DMSO)₂ and M[Au(CN)₂]₂(DMF)₂ (M = Co, Ni) complexes have flat 2-D square-grid layer structures with trans-bound DMSO or DMF units; they are formed via vapour absorption by solid M(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂ and from DMSO or DMF solution synthesis. Co[Au(CN)₂]₂(pyridine)₄ is generated via vapour absorption by Co(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂; the analogous Ni complex is synthesized by immersion of Ni(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂ in 4% aqueous pyridine. Similar immersion of Co(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂ yielded Co[Au(CN)₂]₂(pyridine)₂, which has a flat 2-D square-grid structure with trans-pyridine units. Absorption of pyridine vapour by solid Ni(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂ was incomplete, generating a mixture of pyridine-bound complexes. Analyte-free Co[Au(CN)₂]₂ was prepared by dehydration of Co(μ-OH₂)[Au(CN)₂]₂ at 145 °C; it has a 3-D diamondoid-type structure and absorbs DMSO, DMF and pyridine to give the same materials as by vapour absorption from the hydrate.

Pillars, Layers, Pores and Networks from Nickeltripyrrins: A Porphyrin Fragment as a Versatile Building Block for the Construction of Supramolecular Assemblies

Sterically hindered nickel- tripyrrins [Ni(trpy)X] with different di-, tri- and tetradentate anions X have been prepared with the aim of finding coordination polymers formed by self-association. The syntheses were performed by simple ligand-exchange reactions and proceeded successfully with the pseudohalides CN(-), OCN(-), SCN(-), SeCN(-), N(CN)(2) (-) (dicyanoamido, dca) and C(CN)(3) (-) (tricyanomethanido, tcm), the cyanidometallates [Ag(CN)(2)](-) and [Ni(CN)(4)](2-) and the salicylate anion (sal(-)). X-ray crystallographic analyses revealed that the complexes with cyanido and isocyanato ligands, as well as the compound with a salicylato ligand, are prototypes for structurally distinct monomeric species in the solid state, whereas one-dimensional coordination polymers or supramolecular three-dimensional networks are formed from all other combinations. The polymeric compounds display a variety of individual pillar and network architectures with functionalised pores and clefts and with the Ni(trpy) fragments in different relative orientations. Hydrogen bonding and pi stacking were found to be additional structure-directing effects, which increased the structural complexity of the system. The Ni(trpy) subunit has thus been proven to be a versatile building block for the construction of supramolecular assemblies and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) from pentacoordinate Ni(II) ions.