Heterometallic polymeric clusters containing tetraselenotungstate anion: one-dimensional helical chain [[La(Me2SO)8

Nonlinear Optical Materials for the Smart Filtering of Optical Radiation

The control of luminous radiation has extremely important implications for modern and future technologies as well as in medicine. In this Review, we detail chemical structures and their relevant photophysical features for various groups of materials, including organic dyes such as metalloporphyrins and metallophthalocyanines (and derivatives), other common organic materials, mixed metal complexes and clusters, fullerenes, dendrimeric nanocomposites, polymeric materials (organic and/or inorganic), inorganic semiconductors, and other nanoscopic materials, utilized or potentially useful for the realization of devices able to filter in a smart way an external radiation. The concept of smart is referred to the characteristic of those materials that are capable to filter the radiation in a dynamic way without the need of an ancillary system for the activation of the required transmission change. In particular, this Review gives emphasis to the nonlinear optical properties of photoactive materials for the function of optical power limiting. All known mechanisms of optical limiting have been analyzed and discussed for the different types of materials.

Structural, energetic, and electronic properties of La(III)-dimethyl sulfoxide clusters

By using accurate density functional theory calculations, we have studied the cluster complexes of a La(3+) ion interacting with a small number of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) molecules of growing size (from 1 to 12). Extended structural, energetic, and electronic structure analyses have been performed to provide a complete picture of the physical properties that are the basis of the interaction of La(III) with DMSO. Recent experimental data in the solid and liquid phase have suggested a coordination number of 8 DMSO molecules with a square antiprism geometry arranged similarly in the liquid and crystalline phases. By using a cluster approach on the La(3+)(DMSO)n gas phase isolated structures, we have found that the 8-fold geometry, albeit less regular than in the crystal, is probably the most stable cluster. Furthermore, we provide new evidence of a 9-fold complexation geometric arrangement that is competitive (at least energetically) with the 8-fold one and that might suggest the existence of transient structures with higher coordination numbers in the liquid phase.

Zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks (ZMOFs): design, synthesis, and properties

This review highlights various design and synthesis approaches toward the construction of ZMOFs, which are metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with topologies and, in some cases, features akin to traditional inorganic zeolites. The interest in this unique subset of MOFs is correlated with their exceptional characteristics arising from the periodic pore systems and distinctive cage-like cavities, in conjunction with modular intra- and/or extra-framework components, which ultimately allow for tailoring of the pore size, pore shape, and/or properties towards specific applications.

K-edge XANES investigation of octakis(DMSO)lanthanoid(III) complexes in DMSO solution and solid iodides

The potential of high energy XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structure) as a tool for the structural analysis of lanthanoid-containing systems has been explored. The K-edge XANES spectra of La(3+), Gd(3+), and Lu(3+) ions both in DMSO solution and solid octakis(DMSO)lanthanoid(III) iodides have been analysed. Although the K-edges of lanthanoids cover the energy range of 38 (La) to 65 (Lu) keV, the large widths of the core hole states do not appreciably reduce the potential structural information of the XANES data. We show that, for lanthanoid compounds, accurate structural parameters are obtained from the analysis of K-edge XANES signals if a deconvolution procedure is carried out. We found that in solid octakis(DMSO)lanthanoid(III) iodides the Ln(3+) ions are coordinated by eight DMSO ligands arranged in a quite symmetric fashion. In DMSO solution the Ln(3+) ions retain a regular eight-coordination structure and the coordination number does not change along the series. In contrast to when in water the second coordination shell has been found to provide a negligible contribution to the XANES spectra of Ln(3+) ions in DMSO solution.

Synthesis of 1D {Cu6(μ3-SC3H6N2)4(μ-SC3H6N2)2(μ-I)2I4}n and 3D {Cu2(μ-SC3H6N2)2(μ-SCN)2}n Polymers with 1,3-Imidazolidine-2-thione: Bond Isomerism in Polymers

The reaction of copper(I) iodide with 1, 3-imidazolidine-2-thione (SC3H6N2) in a 1:2 molar ratio (M/L) has formed unusual 1D polymers, {Cu6(mu3-SC3H6N2)4(mu-SC3H6N2)2(mu-I)2I4}n (1) and {Cu6(mu3-SC3H6N2)2(mu-SC3H6N2)4(mu-I)4I2}n (1a). A similar reaction with copper(I) bromide has formed a polymer {Cu6(mu3-SC3H6N2)2(mu-SC3H6N2)4(mu-Br)4Br2}n (3a), similar to 1a, along with a dimer, {Cu2(mu-SC3H6N2)2(eta1-SC3H6N2)2Br2} (3). Copper(I) chloride behaved differently, and only an unsymmetrical dimer, {Cu2(mu-SC3H6N2)(eta1-SC3H6N2)3Cl2} (4), was formed. Finally, reactions of copper(I) thiocyanate in 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratios yielded a 3D polymer, {Cu2(mu-SC3H6N2)2(mu-SCN)2}n (2). Crystal data: 1, C9H18Cu3I3N6S3, triclinic, P, a = 9.6646(11) A, b = 10.5520(13) A, c = 12.6177(15) A, alpha = 107.239(2) degrees , beta = 99.844(2) degrees , gamma = 113.682(2) degrees , V = 1061.8(2) A(3), Z = 2, R = 0.0333; 2, C(4)H(6)CuN(3)S(2), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.864(3) A, b = 14.328(6) A, c = 6.737(2) A, beta = 100.07(3) degrees , V = 747.4(5), Z = 4, R = 0.0363; 3, C12H24Br2Cu2N8S4, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 19.420(7) A, b = 7.686(3) A, c = 16.706(6) A, beta = 115.844(6) degrees , V = 2244.1(14) A(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0228; 4, C12H24Cl2Cu2N8S4, monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 7.4500(6) A, b = 18.4965(15) A, c = 16.2131(14) A, beta = 95.036(2) degrees , V = 2225.5(3) A(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0392. The 3D polymer 2 exhibits 20-membered metallacyclic rings in its structure, while synthesis of linear polymers, 1 and 1a, represents an unusual example of I (1a)-S (1) bond isomerism.

Syntheses, Structures, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Heteroselenometallic W−Se−Ag Cluster Compounds Containing Phosphine Ligands

Treatment of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with a 1:1 mixture of AgNO3 and PCy3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) in the absence of iodide afforded a linear trinuclear compound [(mu-WSe4)(AgPCy3)2] (1). A similar reaction in the presence of iodide gave rise to the isolation of the cubanelike compound [(mu3-WSe4)Ag3(PCy3)3(mu3-I)] (2). Treatment of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with AgI in the presence of bidentate phosphine ligands bis(diphenylphosphino)amine (dppa) and bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm) afforded the tetranuclear compounds [(mu3-WSe4)Ag3(mu-I)(mu-dppa)2] (3) and [(mu3-WSe4)Ag3(mu3-I)(mu-dppm)2] (4), respectively, which exhibit an open butterfly configuration. A novel hexanuclear cluster compound [(mu3-WSe4)2Ag4(mu-dppm)3] (5) was obtained from interaction of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with AgNO3 and dppm in the absence of iodide source. The above cluster compounds are electrically neutral and air-stable in both solution and the solid state and have been characterized by electronic, infrared, mass, and NMR spectroscopies. The solid-state structures of five cluster compounds have been established by X-ray crystallography. The nonlinear optical properties of compounds 4 and 5 were examined by z-scan techniques with 7 ns pulses at 532 nm. The optical limiting effects of compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were determined and compared with related argentoselenometallic compounds.

Construction of New Heteroselenometallic Clusters: Formation of Crownlike [Et4N]4[(μ5-WSe4)(CuI)5(μ-I)2] and Octahedral Polymeric [(μ6-WSe4)Cu6I4(py)4]n from Planar [Et4N]4[(μ4-WSe4)Cu4I6] with Additional Faces

The coplanar cluster compound [Et4N]4[(mu4-WSe4)Cu4I6] (1) was prepared from reaction of [Et4N]2[WSe4] with 4 equiv of CuI in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) solution in the presence of [Et(4)N]I. Treatment of 1 with pyridine (py) in dry MeCN gave the neutral cluster [(mu4-WSe4)Cu4(py)6I2] (2) in good yield. Recrystallization of 1 from py/i-PrOH resulted in the reorganization of the coplanar WSe4Cu4 core and the formation of a neutral polymeric cluster [(mu3-WOSe3)Cu3(py)3(mu-I)]n (3) containing a nest-shaped OWSe3Cu3 core and a terminal W=O bond. The interaction of cluster 1 with excess PPh3 in CH3Cl3 gave [(mu3-WSe4)Cu3(PPh3)3(mu3-I)] (4) which has a cubanelike SeWSe3Cu3I core. Treatment of 1 with 1 equiv of CuI in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) yielded [Et4N]4[(mu5-WSe4)(CuI)5(mu-I)2] (5) which has a crown-like core structure. Treatment of 1 in DMF with 2 equiv of CuI in the presence of py resulted in the formation of a two-dimensional polymeric cluster, [(mu6-WSe4)Cu6I4(py)4]n (6), consisting of an octahedral WSe4Cu6 repeating unit. The solid-state structures of clusters 3, 5, and 6 have been further established by X-ray crystallography. The nonlinear optical properties of 6 have been also investigated. Cluster 6 was found to exhibit good photostability and a large optical limiting effect with the limiting threshold being ca. 0.3 J cm(-2).

Versatility of Dithiophosphates in the Syntheses of Copper(I) Complexes with Bis(diphenylphosphino)alkanes: Abstraction of Chloride from Dichloromethane

Reactions of [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)]X (X = PF(6), BF(4)) with bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm = Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) and ammonium dialkyldithiophosphates, (NH(4))[S(2)P(OR)(2)] (R = Et, (i)Pr), yield a series of novel Cu(I) polynuclear complexes, trinuclear [Cu(3)(mu-dppm)(3)(mu(3)-Cl){S(2)P(OEt)(2)}] (PF(6)) 1 and [Cu(3)(mu-dppm)(2){S(2)P(OR)(2)}(2)](PF(6)) (R = Et, 2; (i)Pr, 3), tetranuclear [Cu(4)(mu-dppm)(2) {S(2)P(OEt)(2)}(4)] 4, and hexanuclear [Cu(6)(mu-dppm)(2)(mu(4)-Cl){S(2)P(O(i)()Pr)(2)}(4)](BF(4)) 5. Similarly, the reaction of [Cu(2)(mu-L-L)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)](PF(6))(2) (L-L, dppm, dppe = Ph(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2)) with (NH(4))[S(2)P(OR)(2)] yields dinuclear [Cu(2)(mu-dppm)(2){S(2)P(OR)(2)}(2)] 6 (R= (i)Pr, 6A; Et, 6B), trinuclear [Cu(3)(mu-dppe)(3)(mu-Cl)(2){S(2)P(O(i)Pr)(2)}] 9, and polymeric [Cu(mu(2)-dppe){S(2)P(OR)(2)}](n) (R = Et, 7; (i)Pr, 8) complexes. The formation of 1 and 5 involved the abstraction of chloride from dichloromethane when the Cu/S(2)P(OR)(2) ratio exceeded 1, but when ratio was 1:1, no Cl abstraction occurred, as in compound 4. Compound 9, however, was obtained as a 12% byproduct in the synthesis of 8 using a 1:1:1 ratio of Cu/dppe/S(2)P(O(i)Pr)(2). The chloride binds to Cu atoms in a mu(3)-Cl mode by capping one face of the Cu(3) triangle of cluster 1. A mu(4)-Cl caps a single tetragonal face of the trigonal prism of cluster 5, and in the cluster 9, two chlorides bond in mu(2)-Cl modes. Both clusters 2 and 3 exhibit the mu(3)-S mode of bonding for dtp ligands. Only cluster 5 exhibited close Cu...Cu contacts (2.997-3.0238 A). All of compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and pertinent crystallographic data for 1, 5, and 9 are are follows: (1) C(79)H(76)ClCu(3)F(6)O(2)P(8)S(2), triclinic, P, a = 11.213(1) A, b = 14.142(1) A, c = 25.910(2) A, alpha = 95.328(2) degrees , beta = 99.594(2) degrees , gamma = 102.581(2) degrees , V = 3918.2(6) A(3), Z = 2; (5) C(74)H(100)BClCu(6)F(4)O(8)P(8)S(8), monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 25.198(4) A, b = 15.990(3) A, c = 25.421(4) A, beta = 106.027(3) degrees , V = 9845(3)A(3), Z = 4; (9) C(84)H(86)Cl(2)Cu(3)O(2)P(7)S(2), monoclinic, C2/c, with a = 24.965(3) A, b = 17.058(2) A, c = 20.253(2) A, beta = 95.351(4) degrees , V = 8587.4(17)A(3), Z = 4.

Synthesis, Structure, and Large Optical Limiting Effect of the First Coordination Polymeric Cluster Based on an {I@[AgI(inh)]6} Hexagram Block

In this paper, treatment of N-(isonicotinoyl)-N'-nicotinoylhydrazine (inh) and AgI with excess KI afforded a unique coordination polymeric cluster {[AgI(inh)]6(KI)}n (1) with the hexagram cluster units centered by mu6-I. In the polymer these hexagram units are parallel to the ab plane and are linked by separated K+ centers through inh. Polymer 1 represents the first example of coinstantaneous cation-anion-induced supramolecular self-assembly with nanoscale inner cavities. The polymer's third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties were determined by the Z-scan technique in DMF solution. The results show that the polymer has strong third-order optical nonlinearities. The nonlinear absorptive index a2 and refractive index n2 are calculated to be 1.044 x 10(-9) mW(-1) and 2.827 x 10(-11) esu, respectively. The values are comparable to those of the reported cluster polymers. The optical limiting experiments show that the present cluster exhibits a large optical limiting capacity. The value of the limiting threshold was measured as 0.53 J cm(-2) from the optical limiting experimental data. This value is three times better than 1.6 J cm(-2) of C60. This paper also gives a summary and comparison on the optical limiting properties of oligomeric and polymeric clusters.

Copper-selenium interactions: influence of alkane spacer and halide anion in the synthesis of unusual polynuclear copper(I) complexes with bis(diphenylselenophosphinyl)alkanes

The reactions of copper(I) halides with bis(diphenylselenophosphinyl)alkanes, namely Ph(2)P(Se)-(CH(2))(n)-P(Se)Ph(2) [n = 1-4], in acetonitrile are described. The ligand 1,3-bis(diphenylselenophosphinyl)propane [dppp-Se,Se] with copper(I) bromide and copper(I) iodide formed two unusual infinite coordination polymers, namely [Cu(2)Br(2)(mu(2)-dppp-Se-Se)(2)](n), 1, and [Cu(3)I(3)(mu(2)-dppp-Se,Se)(2)](n), 2. Selenium bridged dinuclear complexes, [Cu(2)Br(2)((mu(3)-dppm-Se,Se)(2)], 3, and [Cu(2)I(2)(dppm-Se,Se)(2)], 4, were formed using 1,1-bis(diphenylselenophosphinyl)methane [dppm-Se,Se]. Similarly, 1,2-bis(diphenylselenophosphinyl)ethane [dppe-Se,Se] and 1,4-bis(diphenylselenophosphinyl)butane [dppb-Se,Se] formed complexes, Cu(2)Br(2)(dppe-Se,Se)(2), 5, and Cu(2)I(2)(dppb-Se,Se), 6. These have been characterized with the help of analytical data, infrared spectroscopy, and, for compounds 1-3, X-ray crystallography. Compound 2, [Cu(3)I(3(dppp-Se,Se)(2)](n), has two dppp-Se,Se molecules coordinating to two copper(I) atoms of the dinuclear Cu(mu-I)(2)Cu core in unidentate fashion, with two pendant Ph(2)P(Se)- moieties in trans orientation, and one of these groups is coordinated to another copper(I) iodide moiety, thus forming the repeat unit (A), -CuI(mu-dppp-Se,Se)Cu(mu-I)(2)Cu(mu-dppp-Se,Se)-. This repeat unit (A) combined with another unit, and this process continued and finally formed the infinite polymer 2. In this polymer, the mononuclear CuISe(2) and dinuclear Cu(2)(mu-I)(2)Se(2) cores have distorted trigonal planar geometries around Cu centers. The Cu(2)...Cu(2)* separation of 2.643(1) A is less than twice the van der Waals radius of Cu, 2.80 A. The structure of polymer 1 is similar to that of 2, except that it has only mononuclear trigonal planar CuBrSe(2) units bridged by Se atoms of dppp-Se,Se ligand, and the repeat unit is -CuBr(mu(2)-dppp-Se,Se)CuBr(mu(2)(-)dppp-Se,Se)-. The formation of zigzag one-dimensional copper(I) coordination polymers (1 and 2), with trigonal planar copper(I) centers, provides the first examples of this type in tertiary phosphine chalcogenide chemistry. In contrast, the decrease in methylene chain length, from -(CH(2))(3)- to -(CH(2))-, resulted in chelation by the dppm-Se,Se ligand, forming CuBr(dppm-Se,Se), which dimerized via Se donor atoms and formed [Cu(2)Br(2)(mu(3)-dppm-Se,Se)(2)], 3. It has a relatively less common central kernel, Cu(mu-Se)(2)Cu, and each Cu atom is further bonded to one terminal Br and one Se atoms, and the geometry around each Cu center is distorted tetrahedral (bond angles, ca. 101-121 degrees).

Synthesis, structure, and optical-limiting properties of heterobimetallic [M(3)CuS(4)] cuboidal clusters (M = Mo or W) with terminal phosphine ligands

Cubane-type clusters of formula [Mo(3)CuS(4)Cl(4)(dmpe)(3)](PF(6)) (4), [Mo(3)CuS(4)Br(4)(dmpe)(3)](PF(6)) (5), and [W(3)CuS(4)Br(4)(dmpe)(3)](PF(6)) (6) have been prepared by reacting the incomplete cuboidal trimers [Mo(3)S(4)Cl(3)(dmpe)(3)](PF(6)) (1), [Mo(3)S(4)Br(3)(dmpe)(3)](PF(6)) (2), and [W(3)S(4)Br(3)(dmpe)(3)](PF(6)) (3), respectively, with CuX (X = Cl or Br) or the mononuclear copper complex [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)](+) in THF. The reaction takes place without global changes in the metal oxidation states, and compounds 4-6 with a [M(3)CuS(4)](5+) core possess 16 e(-) for metal-metal bonding. X-ray structural analysis of 4-6 revealed an effective C(3v) symmetry for the M(3)Cu unit with the M-M distances being statistically the same for M = Mo or W. However, the M-Cu distance is 0.04 and 0.1 A longer than the M-M bond length for Mo and W, respectively. There is no significant structural rearrangement of the ligand-metal bonding in proceeding from [M(3)S(4)X(3)(dmpe)(3)](+) to [M(3)CuS(4)X(4)(dmpe)(3)](+). The cyclic voltammograms of the [Mo(3)CuS(4)] cubane clusters show one quasi-reversible reduction process at E(1/2) = -0.31 V for 4 and at E(1/2) = -0.23 V for 5 and one irreversible reduction at -0.69 and -0.58 V for 4 and 5, respectively. The tungsten cluster 6 shows a unique quasi-reversible reduction wave at E(1/2) = -0.71 V. The incorporation of copper into the incomplete [M(3)S(4)] cuboidal complexes produces a decrease of the reduction potential for both molybdenum and tungsten. Absorption spectra of 1-6 are broadly similar; replacing Mo by W in proceeding from 2 to 3 or from 5 to 6 and replacing Br by Cl in proceeding from 2 to 1 or from 5 to 4 results in a blue shift of the three UV-visible absorption bands. All six clusters exhibit optical limiting, as measured by the Z-scan technique at 523 nm using 40 ns pulses. The power-limiting mechanism remains obscure, but under the conditions employed, threshold-limiting fluence decreases on replacing W by Mo on proceeding from 3 to 2 or 6 to 5 and on proceeding from tetranuclear cluster (4-6) to trinuclear precursor (1-3, respectively). For all six clusters, values of the excited-state cross section sigma(eff) are larger than those of the corresponding ground-state cross section sigma(0); i.e., all clusters are efficient optical limiters.