Icosidodecahedral Coordination-Saturated Cuprofullerene

The first coordination-saturated buckyball with a C60 molecule totally encased in an icosidodecahedral Cu30 in a (μ30 -(η2 )30 )-fashion, namely C60 @Cu30 @Cl36 N12 , has been successfully realized by a C60 -templated assembly. The 48 outmost coordinating atoms (36Cl+12N) comprise a new simple polyhedron that is described by a ccf topology. Charge transfer from (CuI , Cl) to C60 explains the expansion of the light absorption up to 700 nm, and accounts for an ultrafast photophysical process that underpins its high photothermal conversion efficiency. This work makes a giant step forward in exohedral metallofullerene (ExMF) chemistry.

Multifunctional Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on -NH2 Modified Ligand: Fluorescent Ratio Probe, CrO42- Ions Adsorption, and Photocatalytic Property

In response to the growing concern for environmental pollution, two lanthanide compounds {[Ln(L)(H2O)]·4H2O}n (where Ln = Tb and Gd, H3L = 1-amino-2,4,6-benzene tricarboxylic acid) were synthesized using a -NH2 modified ligand and systematically characterized. Both compounds exhibit remarkable fluorescence response, adsorption of CrO42- ions, and photocatalytic degradation properties, as well as exceptional acid-base and thermal stability. Remarkably, the pH-dependent 1-Tb exhibits exceptional performance as a fluorescent probe for detecting Fe3+ and CrO42-/Cr2O72- ions in aqueous solutions, while also serving as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the detection of Cr3+, offering rapid response, high sensitivity, selectivity, and recoverability advantages in application. Moreover, 1-Tb exhibits excellent detection capabilities and displays effective adsorption of CrO42- ions, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 230.71 mg/g. On the other hand, 1-Gd exhibits superior performance compared to 1-Tb in the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics. The degradation mechanism is further elucidated by conducting experiments with DFT theoretical calculations.

Symmetry-Driven Assembly of a Penta-Shell Keplerate Cuprofullerene for Metallofullerene Frameworks

Two metallofullerene frameworks (MFFs) constructed from a penta-shell Keplerate cuprofullerene chloride, C60@Cu24@Cl44@Cu12@Cl12, have been successfully prepared via a C60-templated symmetry-driven strategy. The icosahedral cuprofullerene chloride is assembled on a C60 molecule through [η2-(C=C)]-Cu(I) and Cu(I)-Cl coordination bonds, resulting in the penta-shell Keplerate with the C60 core canopied by 24 Cu, 44 Cl, 12 Cu and 12 Cl atoms that fulfill the tic@rco@oae@ico@ico penta-shell polyhedral configuration. By sharing the outmost-shell Cl atoms, the cuprofullerene chlorides are connected into 2D or 3D (snf net) frameworks. TD-DFT calculations reveal that the charge transfer from the outmost Cu(I) and Cl to C60 core is responsible for their light absorption expansion to near-infrared region, implying anionic halogenation may be an effective strategy to tune the light absorption properties of metallofullerene materials.

2D Coordination Sheets Based on Tetranuclear Cuprofullerene Pentafluorobenzoate and Their Electronic Properties

Two 2D coordination sheets with pure CuI and mixed CuI/CuII centers based on tetranuclear cuprofullerene pentafluorobenzoate were afforded under solvothermal conditions. They are constructed with linear (μ2-η2:η2)2-C60 connecting CuI/CuII pentafluorobenzoate...

A zinc -based metal-organic framework with triazine moiety: effec-tive detection of antibiotics and photodegradation dyes in aqueous solution

A zinc -based metal-organic framework with constructed by solvothermal synthesis approach with the formula {[Zn3(ttta)2(H2O)4]}n (1-Zn) (where H3ttta = 4,4',4''-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triazinediyl) triazinic acid), and which was successfully characterized. In terms of...

A 1D Mixed-Valence Cuprofullerene Pyrazolate Polymer as a Semiconductor Material

Polymeric {Cu₆[(μ₃-η²:η²:η²)₂-C₆₀](FPz)₆Cl·3C₆H₅Cl}_∞ [FPz = 4-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate], synthesized solvothermally with chlorobenzene as the solvent, is a doubly-connecting trans bis-adduct hexanuclear cuprofullerene that has copper in mixed valence. The compound is an example of a metallofullerene having semiconductivity character.

Regioisomeric core-shell cuprofullerene C60@Cu24

The controlled synthesis of high-nuclear regioisomeric core-shell exohedral metallofullerenes (ExMFs) is challenging. Herein, we demonstrated the synthesis of regioisomeric core-shell cuprofullerene C₆₀@Cu^I₂₄ and its 3-D coordination polymer using heteroleptic ligands, realizing high-nuclear regioisomeric ExMFs and a polymeric ExMF structure.

Preparation and characterization of a newly constructed multifunctional Co(ii)–organic framework: proton conduction and adsorption of Congo red in aqueous medium

The efficient adsorption of CR over Co-MOF 1 as well as the pH-dependent proton-conducting mechanism of the composite Co-MOF–Nafion membrane.

Discrete Heteropolynuclear Yb/Er Assemblies: Switching on Molecular Upconversion Under Mild Conditions

The salts {[Ln₂ Ln*(Hhmq)₃ (OAc)₃ (hfac)₂ ]⁺ [Ln*(hfac)₃ (OAc)(MeOH)]^- } (Hhmq=2-methanolquinolin-8-oxide, hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate; Ln, Ln*=Er, Gd, Yb) feature a discrete heteronuclear cation consisting of two types of lanthanide atoms. The quinolinoxy O-atom serves as a μ₂ -bridge to two Ln atoms and as a μ₃ -bridge to all three atoms, with metal⋅⋅⋅metal distances being around 3.7 Å. For 1 ([Yb₂ Er]⁺ ), near-infrared downshifted luminescence is switched to competitive upconversion luminescence upon irradiation by a 980 nm laser under an extremely low excitation power (0.288 W cm^-2 ) through introduction of fluoride ions. The stability of 1 after addition of fluoride was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and multistage mass spectrometry, associated with the ¹ H NMR of 6 ([La₂ Eu]⁺ ). More importantly, the at least 20-fold enhancement of the quantum yield in non-deuterated solvents at room temperature under low power densities (2 W cm^-2 ) is the highest among the few molecular examples reported.

SHG in a centrosymmetric crystal - can it be possible?

The present report lists selected publications on centrosymmetric compounds that manifest second harmonic generation responses in a laser, along with a few publications that dispute the laser outcomes. Two studies provide a plausible explanation for this apparent contradiction between second-order nonlinear susceptibility and inversion symmetry: the crystals are noncentrosymmetric and are twinned by inversion. If crystal structures of SHG-active compounds are presented in centrosymmetric settings, the authors of the publications may consider stipulating that the true space group is likely to be one of the noncentrosymmetric sub-space groups.

Resolvable polymorphism in an intergrowth of two modifications of tris(diethyldithiocarbamato)antimony

Tris(diethyldithiocarbamato-κS)antimony(III), [Sb(C₅H₁₀NS₂)₃], is tentatively presumed to comprise a triclinic and a monoclinic polymorph intergrown into each other. The geometry in the triclinic phase is a ψ-capped octahedron and that in the monoclinic phase is a ψ-pentagonal bipyramid. The study also identifies the polyhedral symbols for a reported pair of polymorphs of another Sb^III coordination compound, as well as for those of published polymorphic modifications of other Bi^III and Pb^II coordination compounds; the symbols in the pair differ in most of these examples. When differentiating related structures of such classes of coordination compounds, lone-pair stereochemistry may be another informative variable, as stereochemical activity is not always apparent from bond distances and angles only.

Ψ-Polyhedral symbols for coordination geometries of lead(II) with a stereochemically active lone pair

Because an IUCr/IUPAC-designated set of letters/numbers identifies the configuration of the atoms linked to the Pb^II atom in its coordination compounds, a Ψ prefix before such as a polyhedral symbol provides useful information when its lone pair is stereochemically active. Such notation is especially relevant when the metal atom is connected to eight or more atoms regardless of whether the lone pair is active or inert. The polyhedral symbols for the crystal structures in some 50 articles published after 2000 are reported here as the original studies did not expressly identify coordination geometries.

Real-time and visual sensing devices based on pH-control assembled lanthanide-barium nano-cluster

Real-time and visual monitoring of pollutants in the air is of great importance since they are usually cannot be seen, smelled, or touched. Lanthanide nano-cluster is a kind of luminescent sensor for various species. However, controlling synthesis of lanthanide nano-cluster remains experimentally challenging. In this work, four series of lanthanide-barium (Ln-Ba) nano-clusters of Dy₂Ba (1), Tb₂Ba₂ (2), Ln₄Ba₃ (Ln = Tb, 3a; Eu, 3b), Tb₄Ba₄ (4) were assembled through precisely controlling the pH of the reactant solutions. The work features the first example that the number of cluster's nuclei changes regularly with the pH. Moreover, investigation reveals that nano-cluster 3a is a highly selective and sensitive sensor towards acetylacetone (acac) and aniline. Interestingly, easy-to-use sensing devices of test paper, agarose gel, and five kinds of film on CaCO₃, polyfoam, coin, mask, and wall that based on 3a were fabricated by facile methods. The seven sensing devices showed remarkable ability to sense aniline and acac vapors with visibility to the naked eyes. This is the first work on multiple real-time and visual sensing devices based on the lanthanide nano-cluster.

Synthesis, characterization and multiple targeting with selectivity: Anticancer property of ternary metal phenanthroline-maltol complexes

The cobalt(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and maltol (mal) (complexes 1, 2, 3 respectively) were prepared from their respective metal(II) chlorides and were characterized by FT-IR, elemental analysis, UV spectroscopy, molar conductivity, p-nitrosodimethylaniline assay and mass spectrometry. The X-ray structure of a single crystal of the zinc(II) analogue reveals a square pyramidal structure with distinctly shorter apical chloride bond. All complexes were evaluated for their anticancer property on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and normal cell line MCF-10A, using (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and morphological studies. Complex 2 was most potent for 24, 48 and 72 h treatment of cancer cells but it was not selective towards cancer over normal cells. The mechanistic studies of the cobalt(II) complex 1 involved apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species assay and proteasome inhibition assay. Complex 1 induced low apoptosis, generated low level of ROS and did not inhibit proteasome in normal cells. The study of the DNA binding and nucleolytic properties of complexes 1-3 in the absence or presence of H₂O₂ or sodium ascorbate revealed that only complex 1 was not nucleolytic.

Luminescent polymorphic aggregates of trinuclear Cu(I)-pyrazolate tuned by intertrimeric CuNPy weak coordination bonds

Five luminescent polymorphic aggregates of trinuclear Cu(i)-pyrazolate, namely [anti-Cu3L3]2 (1), [syn-Cu3L3·C2H5OH]2 (2), [anti-Cu3L3·C2H5OH]n (3), [anti-Cu3L3·0.5C7H8]n (4) and [syn-Cu3L3·C8H10]n (5) (HL = 4-(pyridin-4-ylthio)-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole), were reported. The trimeric Cu3L3 fragments present syn- and anti-conformations dependent on the dangled direction of 4-pyridyl groups on the two sides of the Cu3Pz3 plane (Pz = pyrazolate). Intertrimeric NPyCu weak coordination bonds associate these Cu3L3 fragments together to form dimeric or polymeric structures, which are further stabilized by crystallized solvent molecules or intertrimeric CuCu interactions. The solvated complexes (3-5) may be transformed into the unsolvated complex 1 by evacuation of the crystallized solvents upon heating. All these complexes emit from green to yellow under UV irradiation, which originated from the triplet excited states of metal to ligand charge transfer (3MLCT) mixed with intertrimeric CuCu interactions. This work provides a novel kind of supramolecular aggregate based on Cu3Pz3 beyond the classical π-acidbase adducts and metallophilicity-dependent dimers/oligomers.

Exohedral Cuprofullerene: Sequentially Expanding Metal Olefin Up to a C60@Cu24 Rhombicuboctahedron

Exohedral cuprofullerenes with 6-, 12-, or 24-nuclearity were obtained by utilizing fluorocarboxylic/dicarboxylic acid under solvothermal conditions. The 24-nuclear molecule presents a C₆₀@Cu₂₄ core-shell structure with a rhombicuboctahedron Cu₂₄ coated on the C₆₀ core, representing the highest nuclearity in metallofullerene. The resultant complexes show an efficient absorption of visible light as opposed to the pristine C₆₀. TD-DFT calculations revealed the charge transfer from Cu(I) and O atoms to the fullerene moiety dominates the photophysical process.

Guest effects on crystal structure and phosphorescence of a Cu6L3 prismatic cage

The crystal packing and photoluminescent properties of coordination cage can be fine-tuned via the encapsulation of aromatic guests with different substituents.

Solid-State NMR, X-Ray Diffraction, and Theoretical Studies of Neutral Mononuclear Molecular Bis(triphenylphosphine)silver(I) Mono-Carboxylate and -Nitrate Systems

Neutral mononuclear molecular silver(i) carboxylate complexes of the form [(Ph3P)2Ag(O2XY)] with O2XY=O2CCH2Ph, O2CCHPh2, O2CC(CH3)3, O2CCH2C(CH3)3, and O2CCF3 (compounds 1–4 and 5β) have been investigated in the solid state using single-crystal X-ray structure determinations, 1D 31P CPMAS NMR and 2D 31P–31P CPCOSY NMR measurements, and ab initio computational modelling. The results show that these complexes contain P2AgO2 molecular cores with four-coordinate silver in which the carboxylate ligands are weakly bound to the silver atoms via the two oxygen atoms giving rise to unsymmetrical chelate units. Crystal structure determinations and solid-state NMR spectra have also been analysed for the mononuclear molecular silver(i) nitrate complex [(Ph3P)2Ag(O2NO)] (9α) and two polymorphs of its toluene monosolvate (11α, β). In 9α, the two PPh3 ligands are of the same chirality, whereas in 11α, β, they are opposed. The crystalline environments in the polymorphs have been explored by way of Hirshfeld surface analyses, after quantum-mechanical isolated-molecule calculations had shown that although the molecular energies of the experimental geometries of 9α, and 11α, β are significantly different from each other and from the energies of the optimized geometries, the latter, in contrast, do not differ significantly from each other despite the conformational isomerism. It has further been shown using 9α as an example that the energy dependence on variation of the P–Ag–P angle over a range of ~15° is only ~5 kJ mol−1. All this indicates that the forces arising from crystal packing result in significant perturbations in the experimental geometries, but do not alter the stereoisomerism caused by the donor atom array around the Ag atom. In the NMR study, a strong inverse correlation has been found between 1J(107/109Ag,31P) and the Ag–P bond length across all carboxylate and nitrate compounds.

Adducts of triangular silver(i) 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate with thiophene derivatives: a weak interaction model of desulfurization

π-Acidic triangular silver(i) 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrazolate (Ag₃pz₃) can form 1 : 1 adducts with dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT), benzothiophene (BT), and 2,5-dimethylthiophene (DMT), which are stabilized by weak AgS and AgC contacts and sometimes by π-π stacking and, therefore, may represent a weak interaction model for some adsorptive desulfurization processes.

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Cobalt(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes with Thiocyanate and Pyridyl Carboxylic Acid

The syntheses and crystal structures of [Co(m-NCS)2(nicH)2]·(nicH), [Ni(NCS)2(H2O)2(isonicH)2]·(isonicH)·2H2O are reported, where nicH is nicotinic acid; isonicH is isonicotinic acid. In the crystals of the two complexes, (iso)nicotinic acids are not deprotonated and thus the carboxy groups act as both donors and acceptors of H-bonds to form networks.

Cd(ii) coordination polymers constructed from bis(pyridyl) ligands with an asymmetric spacer in chelating mode and diverse organic dicarboxylates: syntheses, structural evolutions and properties

Thirteen Cd(ii) complexes with diverse chain, (4,4), (6,3), (6³), (6⁵·8), 2-periodic (6,3) layers, and diverse 3D vma, irl, cds, eca nets have been synthesized.

A luminescent edge-interlocked prismatic heteroleptic metallocage assembled through a ligand replacement reaction

A luminescent edge-interlocked heteroleptic metallocages based on Cu₃(pyrazolate)₃ was prepared through a ligand replacement reaction from a homoleptic metallocage and a new ligand.

Ultrahigh luminescence quantum yield lanthanide coordination polymer as a multifunctional sensor

The investigation and development of advanced multifunctional and sensitive sensors with high luminescent quantum yield and the capability of detecting different analytes, such as metal ions, is imperative. Due to its inherent properties the lanthanide coordination complex is one candidate for sensing applications, particularly for multifunctional sensors. Herein, we present two series of alkali ion decorated lanthanide coordination polymers (Ln-CPs), which show ultrahigh luminescence quantum yields (QYs) of 77% (1a) and 92% (2a). To the best of our knowledge, 1a represents the first trifunctional lanthanide complex sensor that can simultaneous detect and discriminate three different analytes, namely H+/Cd2+/Cr3+ through a multimode optical response. Furthermore, the limit of detection (LOD) for Cr3+ is an ultralow value of 2.0 × 10-9 M with a sensing time of 2 h, which is comparable to the most sensitive Cr3+ chemosensor. More interestingly, 92% (2a) is an unprecedented luminescence QY among the reported lanthanide coordination complexes.

High Catalytic Performance of a CeO2-Supported Ni Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes, Fabricated via Coordination-Assisted Strategy

A family of two-dimensional salen-type lanthanide complexes was synthesized through a facile solution diffusion method. The two-dimensional lanthanide complexes were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analytical techniques. The SCXRD and XPS analyses reveal that the obtained two-dimensional structures are rich in uncoordinated imine (-CH═N-) groups located on the skeleton of the salen-type organic ligand, which retain strong coordination ability with metal ions. On the basis of this unique feature, a highly dispersed CeO₂-supported Ni catalyst (Ni/CeO₂-CAS) with highly strong metal-support interaction was first synthesized via a coordination-assisted synthesis (CAS) method, which exhibits a much better catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene than the traditional Ni/CeO₂-IWI catalyst prepared by incipient wetness impregnation (IWI). The origin of the improved catalytic activity of Ni/CeO₂-CAS as well as the role of Ni@Ce-H₂salen was revealed by using diverse characterizations. On the basis of the comparative characterization results, the superior catalytic performance of Ni/CeO₂-CAS to Ni/CeO₂-IWI could have resulted from the smaller and highly dispersed Ni nanoparticulates, the intensified Ni-CeO₂ interaction, the enhanced NiO reducibility, and the higher concentration of oxygen vacancies, favoring the H₂ dissociation and adsorption of the nitrobenzene reactant. The Ni/CeO₂-CAS catalyst also exhibits high catalytic performance for reduction of diverse nitroarenes to their corresponding functionalized arylamines. We anticipated that this coordination-assisted strategy may provide a new way for preparing other highly oxide-supported catalysts with potential applications in various catalytic reactions.

The effects of traffic light labelling versus cartoon labelling on food and beverage purchases in a children's hospital setting

This study's purpose was to examine changes in healthy and unhealthy items purchased following the implementation of traffic light and cartoon labelling in a small retail food venue (Café Bay) in a children's hospital in eastern North Carolina. Between October 2015 and March 2016, daily food and beverage sales from Café Bay were obtained during baseline, traffic light labelling, a washout period, cartoon labelling (on healthy foods only) and a final washout period. Pearson chi-squared tests and multiple linear regressions were used to examine effects of labelling strategies, controlling for the holidays. In unadjusted analyses, traffic light labelling was associated with significant decreases in purchases of unhealthy items purchased, while cartoon labelling was associated with increases in unhealthy items purchased. In adjusted linear regression analysis, traffic light labelling was associated with fewer unhealthy purchases and thus may have potential to decrease the amount of unhealthy items purchased in a children's hospital food retail venue.

Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Nonlinear Optic and Thermal Properties of Two Diiodocarbazole Derivatives

Two 3,6-diiodocarbazole derivatives were prepared from the iodination of the corresponding phenylcarbazole. 3,6-Diiodo-9-phenylcarbazole crystallises in the chiral space group P21 and shows good second-harmonic generation effects. Thermogravimetric analysis of the two compounds shows high thermal stabilities, in which the decomposition temperature for 1 and 2 are 273 and 308 °C, respectively.

A highly emissive and stable zinc(ii) metal–organic framework as a host–guest chemopalette for approaching white-light-emission

A new adenine-containing metal–organic framework (MOF), [Zn₄O(adenine)₄(benzene-1,3-dicarboxylate)₄Zn₂] (named as ZnBDCA), was synthesized solvothermally.

A series of anionic host coordination polymers based on azoxybenzene carboxylate: structures, luminescence and magnetic properties

Series of luminescent or magnetic coordination polymers based on azoxybenzene tetracarboxylic acid and bipyridine have been afforded, and characterized systematically.