Search

Zinc(ii) and zirconium(iv) metal-organic frameworks show uptake and slow release of the ant alarm pheromones 3-octanone and 4-methyl-3-heptanone. Inclusion of N-propyl groups on the MOFs allows for enhanced uptake and release over several months. In preliminary field trials, leaf cutting ants show normal behavioural responses to the released pheromones.

The reactions of the zirconium MOF [Zr6O4(OH)4(bdc-NH2)6] (UiO-66-NH2, bdc-NH2 = 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) with the Michael acceptors acrylonitrile (CH2[double bond, length as m-dash]CHCN), acrylic acid (CH2[double bond, length as m-dash]CHCO2H), methyl acrylate (CH2[double bond, length as m-dash]CHCO2Me) and methyl vinyl ketone (CH2[double bond, length as m-dash]CHC(O)Me) led to post-synthetic modification of the MOF through C-N bond formation without loss of crystallinity. The reactions with acrylonitrile and acrylic acid go to completion, yielding [Zr6O4(OH)4(bdc-NHCH2CH2CN)6] (UiO-66-AN, 1) and [Zr6O4(OH)4(bdc-NHCH2CH2CO2H)6] (UiO-66-AA, 2) respectively, whereas those with methyl acrylate and methyl vinyl ketone are incomplete, yielding [Zr6O4(OH)4(bdc-NH2)0.66(bdc-NHCH2CH2CO2Me)5.34] (UiO-66-MA, 3) and [Zr6O4(OH)4(bdc-NH2)2.76(bdc-NHCH2CH2C(O)Me)3.24] (UiO-66-MVK, 4), respectively. The acrylonitrile-modified MOF UiO-66-AN undergoes further reaction with sodium azide in the presence of zinc(ii) chloride in n-butanol to form the tetrazolate-modified MOF [Zr6O4(OH)4(bdc-NHCH2CH2CN)4.74(bdc-NHCH2CH2CN4H)1.26] (UiO-66-TZ, 5).

A series of lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of the general formula [Ln(Hodip)(H 2 O)]·nH 2 O (Sm, 1; Eu, 2; Gd, 3; Tb, 4; Dy, 5; Er, 6; H 4 odip = 5,5'-oxydiisophthalic acid) have been prepared and shown crystallographically to have isostructural three-dimensional frameworks. The fluorescence emission spectra of the europium compound 2, which is red, and the terbium compound 4, which is green, show characteristic peaks for transitions involving the metal centres, whereas that for the gadolinium compound 3 is dominated by transitions involving Hodip. Using a 1 : 1 : 1 mixture of europium, gadolinium and terbium nitrates in the synthesis resulted in the mixed-metal MOF [Gd 0.17 Tb 0.19 Eu 0.64 (Hodip)(H 2 O)]·nH 2 O 7, for which the ratio of the metal ions was determined using EDX spectroscopy. The fluorescence emission spectrum of 7 is dominated by europium emission bands reflecting the higher proportion of Eu 3+ centres and quenching of the terbium fluorescence by metal-to-metal energy transfer. A series of core-shell MOF materials based on the Ln(Hodip)(H 2 O) framework have been prepared in order to isolate the lanthanides in different domains within the crystals. The emission spectra for materials with Gd@Tb@Eu (8) and Tb@Eu@Gd (9) are dominated by terbium emissions, suggesting that physical separation from europium suppresses quenching. In contrast, the material with Eu@Gd@Tb (10) shows only broad ligand bands and europium emissions. This confirms that core-shell MOFs have different fluorescence properties to simple mixed-metal MOFs, demonstrating that the spatial distribution of the metals within a mixed-lanthanide MOF affects the fluorescence behaviour.

A new approach is reported for tailoring the pore geometry in five series of multivariate metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) based on the structure [Zn2(bdc)2(dabco)] (bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, dabco = 1,8-diazabicyclooctane), DMOF-1. A doping procedure has been adopted to form series of MOFs containing varying linker ratios. The series under investigation are [Zn2(bdc)(2-x)(bdc-Br)x(dabco)]·nDMF 1 (bdc-Br = 2-bromo-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), [Zn2(bdc)(2-x)(bdc-I)x(dabco)]·nDMF 2 (bdc-I = 2-iodo-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), [Zn2(bdc)(2-x)(bdc-NO2)x(dabco)]·nDMF 3 (bdc-NO2 = 2-nitro-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), [Zn2(bdc)(2-x)(bdc-NH2)x(dabco)]·nDMF 4 (bdc-NH2 = 2-amino-1,4-benzenedicarboxylate) and [Zn2(bdc-Br)(2-x)(bdc-I)x(dabco)]·nDMF 5. Series 1-3 demonstrate a functionality-dependent pore geometry transition from the square, open pores of DMOF-1 to rhomboidal, narrow pores with increasing proportion of the 2-substituted bdc linker, with the rhomboidal-pore MOFs also showing a temperature-dependent phase change. In contrast, all members of series 4 and 5 have uniform pore geometries. In series 4 this is a square pore topology, whilst series 5 exhibits the rhomboidal pore form. Computational analyses reveal that the pore size and shape in systems 1 and 2 is altered through non-covalent interactions between the organic linkers within the framework, and that this can be controlled by the ligand functionality and ratio. This approach affords the potential to tailor pore geometry and shape within MOFs through judicious choice of ligand ratios.

A series of bismuth-dicarboxylate-deferiprone coordination networks have been prepared and structurally characterised. The new compounds have been demonstrated to release the iron overload drug deferiprone on treatment with PBS and have also been shown to have antibacterial activity against H. pylori.

The synthesis, structural and thermal characterisation of a number of coordination complexes featuring the N,O-heteroditopic ligand 4-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzoate, HL are reported. The reaction of H2L with cobalt(II) and nickel(II) nitrates at room temperature in basic DMF/H2O solution gave discrete mononuclear coordination complexes with the general formula {[M(HL)2(H2O)4]·2DMF} (M = Co (1), Ni (2)), whereas the reaction with zinc(II) nitrate gave [Zn(HL)2]∞, 3, a coordination polymer with distorted diamondoid topology and fourfold interpenetration. Coordination about the tetrahedral Zn(II) nodes in 3 are furnished by two pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms and two carboxylate oxygen atoms to give a mixed N2O2 donor set. Isotopological coordination polymers of zinc(II), {[Zn(HL)2]·2CH3OH·H2O}∞, 4, and cobalt(II), [Co(HL)2]∞, 5, are formed when the reactions are carried out under solvothermal conditions in methanol (80 °C) and water (180 °C), respectively. The reaction of H2L with cadmium(II) nitrate at room temperature in methanol gives {[Cd(HL)2(MeOH)2]·1.8MeOH}∞6, a 2-D (4,4)-connected coordination polymer, whereas with copper(II) the formation of green crystals that transform into purple crystals is observed. The metastable green phase [Cu3(HL)4(μ2-SO4)(H2O)3]∞, 7, crystallises with conserved binding domains of the heteroditopic ligand and contains two different metal nodes: a dicopper carboxylate paddle wheel motif, and, a dicopper unit bridged by sulfate ions and coordinated by ligand pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms. The resultant purple phase {[Cu(HL)2]·4CH3OH·H2O}∞, 8, however, has single copper ion nodes coordinated by mixed N2O2 donor sets with trans-square planar geometry and is threefold interpenetrated. The desolvation of 8 was followed by powder X-ray diffraction and single crystal X-ray diffraction which show desolvation induces the transition to a more closely packed structure while the coordination geometry about the copper ions and the network topology is retained. Powder X-ray diffraction and microanalysis were used to characterise the bulk purity of the coordination materials 1–6 and 8. The thermal characteristics of 1–2, 4–6 and 8 were studied by TG-DTA. This led to the curious observation of small exothermic events in networks 4, 6, and 8 that appear to be linked to their decomposition. In addition, the solid state structures of H2L and that of its protonated salt, H2L·HNO3, were also determined and revealed that H2L forms a 2-D hydrogen bonded polymer incorporating helical chains formed through N–HO and O–HN interactions, and that [H3L]NO3 forms a 1-D hydrogen-bonded polymer.

The iron(III) and aluminium(III) complexes of 1,3-di(4-pyridyl)propane-1,3-dionato (dppd) and 1,3-di(3-pyridyl)propane-1,3-dionato (dmppd), [Fe(dppd)(3)] 1, [Fe(dmppd)(3)] 2, [Al(dppd)(3)] 3 and [Al(dmppd)(3)] 4 have been prepared. These complexes adopt molecular structures in which the metal centres contain distorted octahedral geometries. In contrast, the copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes [Cu(dppd)(2)] 5 and [Zn(dmppd)(2)] 6 both form polymeric structures in which coordination of the pyridyl groups into the axial positions of neighbouring metal centres links discrete square-planar complexes into two-dimensional networks. The europium complex [Eu(dmppd)(2)(H(2)O)(4)]Cl·2EtOH·0.5H(2)O 7 forms a structure containing discrete cations that are linked into sheets through hydrogen bonds, whereas the lanthanum complex [La(dmppd)(3)(H(2)O)]·2H(2)O 8 adopts a one-dimensional network structure, connected into sheets by hydrogen bonds. The iron complexes 1 and 2 act as metalloligands in reactions with silver(I) salts, with the nature of the product depending on the counter-ions present. Thus, the reaction between 1 and AgBF(4) gave [AgFe(dppd)(3)]BF(4)·DMSO 9, in which the silver centres link the metalloligands into discrete nanotubes, whereas reactions with AgPF(6) and AgSbF(6) gave [AgFe(dppd)(3)]PF(6)·3.28DMSO 10 and [AgFe(dppd)(3)]SbF(6)·1.25DMSO 11, in which the metalloligands are linked into sheets. In all three cases, only four of the six pyridyl groups present on the metalloligands are coordinated. The reaction between 2 and AgNO(3) gave [Ag(2)Fe(dmppd)(3)(ONO(2))]NO(3)·MeCN·CH(2)Cl(2)12. Compound 12 adopts a layer structure in which all pyridyl groups are coordinated to silver centres and, in addition, a nitrate ion bridges between two silver centres. A similar structure is adopted by [Ag(2)Fe(dmppd)(3)(O(2)CCF(3))]CF(3)CO(2)·2MeCN·0.25CH(2)Cl(2)13, with a bridging trifluoroacetate ion playing the same role as the nitrate ion in 12.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials based on zinc(II) and aluminium(III) dicarboxylate frameworks with covalently attached ferrocene functional redox groups were synthesised by post-synthetic modification and investigated by voltammetry in aqueous and non-aqueous media. In the voltammetry experiments, ferrocene oxidation occurs in all cases, but chemically reversible and stable ferrocene oxidation without decay of the voltammetric response requires a "mild" dichloroethane solvent environment. The voltammetric response in this case is identified as "surface-confined" with fast surface-hopping of electrons and without affecting the bulk of MOF microcrystals. In aqueous media a more complex pH-dependent multi-stage redox process is observed associated with chemically irreversible bulk oxidation and disintegration of the MOF framework. A characteristic 30 mV per pH unit dependence of redox potentials is observed attributed to a "framework effect": the hydroxide-driven MOF framework dissolution.

The semi-rigid ligand 1,4-bis((3,5-dimethylisoxazol-4-yl)methyl)benzene (bisox) reacts with a range of silver(i) salts to give products in which the anions dictate the structure. The reactions with AgNO(3) and AgO(2)CCF(3) both lead to compounds in which the anions are coordinated to the silver centres. Thus, the structure of [Ag(2)(NO(3))(2)(bisox)] 1 contains helical silver-nitrate chains that are linked into sheets by bridging bisox ligands, whereas the structures of [Ag(O(2)CCF(3))(bisox)]·0.5X (2a, X = MeOH; 2b, X = MeCN) consist of sheets in which Ag(2)(μ-O(2)CCF(3))(2) dimers act as 4-connecting nodes. In these structures bisox adopts the S-conformation, with the nitrogen donor atoms anti to each other. The reactions of bisox with AgClO(4) and AgBF(4) in methanol give the compounds [Ag(2)(bisox)(3)]X(2) (3, X = ClO(4); 5, X = BF(4)), the structures of which contain triply-interpenetrated sheets with Borromean links and ligands in the S-conformation. Recrystallisation of these compounds from acetonitrile-diethyl ether gives [Ag(2)(bisox)(3)]X(2)·xEt(2)O (4, X = ClO(4), x = 1; 6, X = BF(4), x = 1.2). The structures of 4 and 6 contain similar triply-interpenetrated sheets to those in 3 and 5, though these are sandwiched between sheets of discrete Ag(2)(bisox)(3) cages, in which the bisox ligands are in the C-conformation, with the nitrogen donor atoms syn to each other. Diethyl ether molecules project through the faces of the cages and template cage formation. Both 4 and 6 lose diethyl ether on heating in vacuum, and convert into 3 and 5, respectively. This solid state transformation requires a change in conformation of half the bisox ligands, with conversion of 6 into 5 occurring more readily than conversion of 4 into 3. The reactions of bisox with AgPF(6) and AgSbF(6) in methanol give mixtures of products from which [Ag(bisox)(2)]X·0.5bisox (7, X = PF(6); 8, X = SbF(6)) can be isolated. Both 7 and 8 have structures containing one-dimensional chains, in which the bisox ligands adopt C-conformations and interconnect distorted tetrahedral silver centres in a pairwise manner generating macrocycles. Additional uncoordinated bisox molecules lie within half of these macrocyclic rings. Recrystallisation of the crude AgSbF(6)/bisox reaction mixture from acetonitrile-diethyl ether gives [Ag(bisox)(2)]SbF(6)9, the structure of which consists of a triply-interpenetrated flattened diamondoid network. A similar structure was observed for [Ag(bisox)(2)]CF(3)SO(3)10, which is formed from the reaction of AgO(3)SCF(3) and bisox in methanol.

Two new copper metal-organic frameworks containing 5-nitro-1,3-benzenedicarboxylate (5-nbdc) have been prepared from the reaction between Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O and H(2)(5-nbdc) in DMF at different temperatures. Single crystal X-ray structures of {[Cu(2)(5-nbdc)(2)(DMF)(2)].2DMF}(infinity) () and {[Cu(2)(5-nbdc)(2)(DMF)(2)].3(1/3)DMF}(infinity) () revealed similar sheet structures, containing triangular and hexagonal pores, but differences in the stacking of the sheets. Magnetic measurements on and are consistent with antiferromagnetic dimers containing a small quantity of paramagnetic impurity. The desolvated forms of and were applied as Lewis acid catalysts in the acetylation of methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate. When the reaction between Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O and H(2)(5-nbdc) was carried out in a mixture of DMF and water, the reaction gave metallomacrocycles of formula [Cu(6)(5-nbdc)(6)(H(2)O)(12)(DMF)(6)] (). These assemble through hydrogen-bonding interactions to form a gross structure in which the macrocycle pores align into channels. The reaction between Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O and 5-methylsulfanylmethyl-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H(2)(5-msbdc), in DMF-water gave {[Cu(2)(5-msbdc)(2)(OH(2))(2)].3DMF}(infinity) (), which contains similar sheets to those in and , whereas the reaction with 5-amino-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H(2)(5-abdc), gave {[Cu(2)(5-abdc)(2)(DMF)(2)]}(infinity) (), which has a previously reported network based on sheets containing rhombohedral pores. The reaction between Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O and 2-methoxy-1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H(2)(2-mbdc), in DMF gave [Cu(2)(2-mbdc)(2)(DMF)(2)] (). The presence of the substituent in the 2-position removes the co-planarity of the carboxylate groups, and the sheet structure adopted by contains rhomboidal pores.

The products isolated from the reaction between Cd(NO3)2 x 4H2O and 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2bdc) in DMF are very dependent on the conditions. At 115 degrees C, the reaction gives [Cd(bdc)(DMF)]infinity, which has a three-dimensional network structure, whereas at 95 degrees C, 1 is formed alongside [Cd3(bdc)3(DMF)4]infinity 2, which has a two-dimensional network structure. When the reaction is carried out under pressure, it yields [Cd3(bdc)3(DMF)4]infinity 3, which is a supramolecular isomer of 2. The structure of 3 differs from that of 2 regarding the way the Cd3(O2CR)6 units are interlinked to form layers. When the reaction was carried out in DMF that had undergone partial hydrolysis, the only isolated product was [(NMe2H2)2[Cd(bdc)2] x 2DMF]infinity 4. Compound 4 has a three-dimensional triply-interpenetrated diamondoid structure, with dimethylammonium cations and DMF molecules included within the pores. The reaction between Cd(NO3)2 x 4H2O and H2bdc in DEF gave [Cd(bdc)(DEF)]infinity 5, regardless of the solvent quality. Compound 5 has a three-dimensional network structure. The reaction of Cd(NO3)2 x 4H2O and 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H2mbdc) in DMF gave [Cd(mbdc)(DMF)]infinity 6 which has a bilayer structure. The thermal properties of the new materials have been investigated, and the coordinated DEF molecules from 5 can be removed on heating to 400 degrees C without any change in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern. The H2 sorption isotherm for the desolvated material shows marked hysteresis between adsorption and desorption, and less adsorption than predicted by simulations. Kinetic data indicate that the hysteresis is not due to mass transfer limitations, and the most likely explanation for this behaviour lies in partial collapse of the framework to an amorphous phase under the conditions of activation.

The complexes [Cu(L(1))2] 1, [Fe(L(1))3] 3 and [Al(L(1))3] 4 [L(1) = CH(3)C(O)C(CN)C(O)CH(3)] have been prepared for use as metallo-ligands in mixed-metal coordination networks. Surprisingly, the nature of the copper precursor is important in the synthesis of 1, with the reaction between Cu(NO3)2.3H2O, HL(1) and NEt3 giving [Cu6(micro(3)-OMe)4(micro-OMe)2(L(1))6] 2 instead of the anticipated 1, which was obtained with CuCl2.2H2O under the same conditions. Compound 1 reacts with AgNO3 to form [Cu(L(1))2.AgNO3](infinity) 5, the structure of which contains one-dimensional chains in which Ag+ ions bridge between molecules of 1. These chains are cross-linked into ladders by bridging nitrates. The product obtained from the reaction of 3 and AgNO3 is crucially dependent on the solvent used. The reaction in methanol-acetone gives [Fe(L(1))3.AgNO3](infinity) 6, {[Fe2(micro-OMe)2(L(1))4.2AgNO3].CH(3)C(O)CH(3)}(infinity) 7 and [Fe2(micro-OMe)2(L(1))4.AgNO3](infinity) 8. Compounds 6 and 8 both have one-dimensional chain structures, whereas 7 has a two-dimensional layer structure. The reaction in methanol gives 6 and 8 as the major products and, in addition, small quantities of {[AgFe2(micro-OMe)2(L(1))4]OH.0.4H2O](infinity) 9. Compound 9 has a three-dimensional structure based on doubly interpenetrated PtS nets. Compounds 7-9 contain Fe2(micro-OMe)2(L(1))4 dimers, but the coordination properties of the dimers differ, with all the cyanides coordinated in 7 and 9 but one uncoordinated in 8. The orientation of the cyanide groups depends on the relative chirality of the iron centres. A transmetallation reaction occurs between 4 and AgNO3 to give [Ag(L(1))](infinity) 10, which has a two-dimensional layer structure. Compounds 2, 3 and 5-10 have been characterised by X-ray crystallography.

Facile substitution reactions of the two water ligands in the hydrophilic tetradentate phosphine complex cis-[Fe{(HOCH2)P{CH2N(CH2P(CH2OH)2)CH2}2P(CH2OH)}(H2O)2](SO4) (abbreviated to [Fe(L1)(H2O)2](SO4), 1) take place upon addition of Cl-, NCS-, N3(-), CO3(2-) and CO to give [Fe(L1)X2] (2, X = Cl; 4, X = NCS; 5, X=N3), [Fe(L1)(kappa2-O(2)CO)], 6 and [Fe(L1)(CO)2](SO4), 7. The unsymmetrical mono-substituted intermediates [Fe(L1)(H2O)(CO)](SO(4)) and [Fe(L(1))(CO)(kappa(1)-OSO(3))] (8/9) have been identified spectroscopically en-route to 7. Treatment of 1 with acetic anhydride affords the acylated derivative [Fe{(AcOCH2)P{CH2N(CH2P(CH2OAc)2)CH2}2P(CH2OAc)}(kappa2-O(2)SO2)] (abbreviated to [Fe(L2)(kappa2-O(2)SO2)], 10), which has increased solubility over 1 in both organic solvents and water. Treatment of 1 with glycine does not lead to functionalisation of L1, but substitution of the aqua ligands occurs to form [Fe(L(1))(NH(2)CH(2)CO(2)-kappa(2)N,O)](HSO(4)), 11. Compound 10 reacts with chloride to form [Fe(L(2))Cl(2)] 12, and 12 reacts with CO in the presence of NaBPh4 to form [Fe(L2)Cl(CO)](BPh4) 13b. Both of the chlorides in 12 are substituted on reaction with NCS- and N3(-) to form [Fe(L2)(NCS)2] 14 and [Fe(L2)(N3)2] 15, respectively. Complexes 2.H2O, 4.2H2O, 5.0.812H2O, 6.1.7H2O, 7.H2O, 10.1.3CH3C(O)CH3, 12 and 15.0.5H2O have all been crystallographically characterised.

The series of N-carbazolyl phosphines PPh(3-n)(NC(12)H(8))(n)(n= 1, L1; n= 2, L2; n= 3, L3) has been synthesised using BuLi to generate the N-carbazolyl lithium salt, followed by reaction with the appropriate chlorophosphine. The reactions between [Rh(mu-Cl)(CO)(2)](2) and four equivalents of L1 or L2 gave [RhCl(CO)(L1)(2)] 1 and [RhCl(CO)(L2)(2)] 2, though attempts to synthesise the analogous complex using L3 resulted in the formation of [Rh(mu-Cl)(CO)(L3)](2) 3 instead. The inability of L3 to cleave the chloride bridges can be related to its considerable steric requirements. The electronic properties of L1-3 were assessed by comparison of the nu(CO) values of the [Rh(acac)(CO)(L1-3)] complexes 4-6. The increase in number of N-carbazolyl substituents at the phosphorus atom results in a decrease of the sigma-donor and increase in the pi-acceptor character in the order L1 < L2 < L3. In the reactions of L1-3 with [PdCl(2)(cod)] only L1 was able to displace cod from the metal centre and form [PdCl(2)(L1)(2)] 7. The use of [PdCl(2)(NCMe)(2)] instead of [PdCl(2)(cod)] resulted in the formation of the complexes [PdCl(2)(L1)(2)] 7 from L1, the cyclometallated complex [Pd(mu-Cl)[P(NC(12)H(8))(2)(NC(12)H(7))-kappa(2)P,C]](2) 8 from L3 , and a mixture of [PdCl(2)(L2)(2)] 9 and [Pd(mu-Cl)[PPh(NC(12)H(8))(NC(12)H(7))-kappa(2)P,C]](2) 10 from L2 . The reaction of L3 with [Pd(OAc)(2)] produced the cyclometallated complex [Pd(mu-O(2)CCH(3))[P(NC(12)H(8))(2)(NC(12)H(7))-kappa(2)P,C]](2) 11. The reaction of L3 with [Pd(2)(dba)(3)].CHCl(3) produced the 14-electron complex [Pd(L3)(2)] 12. The X-ray crystal structures of six complexes are reported, all of which show the presence of C-H...Pd hydrogen bonding.