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Three-dimensional (3D) hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) have attracted tremendous research interest due to their unique structure and promising applications. However, research on the design, synthesis and properties of this kind of metal-free crystalline material is still in the exploratory stage. Herein, two 3D perovskite molecules [1,4-3.2.2-dabcn]NH 4 Br 3 (1) and [1,4-3.2.2-dabcn]NH 4 I 3 ·0.5H 2 O (2) were obtained by reacting 1,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane (1,4-3.2.2-dabcn) with NH 4 X (X = Br and I) in the corresponding concentrated halogen acids. The single X-ray diffraction results demonstrated that the inorganic framework structures in compounds 1 and 2 constructed with NH 4 Br and NH 4 I are completely different, caused by the radius of the bromide ion being smaller than that of the iodide ion. The 3D framework of compound 1 is constructed with a coplanar dimer [(NH 4 ) 2 Br 6 ] 2- as the basic building unit, leading to the expanded 3D perovskite framework structure with a larger cavity to accommodate the 1,4-3.2.2-dabcn molecule. Nevertheless, compound 2 adopts a familiar 3D crystal framework structure with corner-sharing [(NH 4 )I 6 ] octahedra, where the [1,4-3.2.2-dabcn] cations and water solvent molecule are confined in the cavities enclosed by the octahedra. Notably, both compounds exhibit reversible phase transition, dielectric anomaly and the second harmonic generation (SHG) effect. From the perspective of molecular design, this work is of great significance to guide the construction of new 3D metal-free perovskite molecular materials with reversible properties.

The excellent properties of host-guest crown ether inclusions in phase transition, dielectric and second-order nonlinear optical properties have attracted much attention. In this paper, we successfully designed and prepared two novel host-guest crown ether supramolecules [(DFBA)(15-crown-5)]X (X = ClO 4 - , 1; ReO 4 - , 2) by reactions of 2,6-difluorobenzylamine (DFBA) with 1,4,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane (15-crown-5) in HClO 4 , or HReO 4 aqueous solution. By the introduction of difluoro-substituted benzylamine as a guest cation, the phase transition temperatures are greatly increased to 377 K for 1 and 391 K for 2. More importantly, the space group of 1 has changed from centrosymmetric (CS) P 2/ c to the non-centrosymmetric (NCS) Pca 2 1 in 2 when substituting perchlorate (ClO 4 - ) with the larger and heavier perrhenate (ReO 4 - ), which leads to 2 showing a switchable and stable second-harmonic generation (SHG) effect. According to the principle of momentum matching between a cation and anion, the perrhenate group increases the energy barrier of the molecular thermal motion, which not only significantly increases the phase transition temperature of 2 but also causes it to be frozen and crystallized in a NCS space group at room temperature. This research demonstrates that a polar molecule can adjust the suitability of anions and cations inside the crystal by practical chemical means.

A one-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite material [3.3.0-dabco]PbBr 3 (1) was synthesized by the reaction of 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (3.3.0-dabco) with PbBr 2 in concentrated HBr aqueous solution. Differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric measurements, and variable-temperature structural analyses revealed that compound 1 exhibits two successive structural phase transitions from P 2 1 2 1 2 1 to Pbcm at 387 K ( T 1 ) and then to P 6/ mmc at 436 K ( T 2 ), accompanied by two pairs of dielectric anomalies with a clear one at T 1 and an unobvious one at T 2 . In addition, compound 1 shows a robust second harmonic generation (SHG) effect between SHG-OFF and SHG-ON states during its centrosymmetric to non-centrosymmetric symmetry breaking phase transition at T 1 .

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials with perovskite structure have recently attracted tremendous interest due to their structural tunability and rich functional properties, such as phase transition and photoelectric properties. Within this context, two discrete tin-based organic-inorganic hybrid compounds [(FMBA)2SnCl6] (1) and [(FMBA)2SnBr6] (2) were prepared by the reaction of 3-fluoro-N-methylbenzylamine (FMBA) with SnX4 (X = Cl, Br) in the corresponding concentrated halogen acids HX. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric measurements showed that both compounds underwent reversible phase transition and dielectric anomaly at a phase transition point above 400 K. Crystal structure analyses revealed that the phase transition mainly originated from the order and disorder of a fluorine-substituted organic amine structure at low and high temperatures. Meanwhile, both compounds showed a semiconducting property with optical bandgaps of 4.24 eV for 1 and 2.58 eV for 2. This finding of two Sn(iv)-based metal halides with prominent phase transition and semiconducting behaviors will expand an executable pathway for designing multifunctional perovskite-type switchable materials.

Herein, six copper(ii) complexes with multidentate ligands, [Cu(HL 1 )(OAc)(HOAc)] (1), [Cu(HL 2 )(OAc)] (2), [Cu(HL 3 )(OAc)] (3), [CuL 4 (OAc)] (4), [Cu(HL 2 )Cl] (5), and [Cu(HL 3 )Cl] (6) {H2L1 = [bis(3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)](2-pyridylmethyl)amine, H2L2 = [(3-tert-butyl-2-hydoxybenzyl)(3-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxybenzyl) (2-pyridylmethyl)]amine, H2L3 = [bis(3-trifluoromethyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)] (2-pyridylmethyl)amine, and HL4 = [bis(2-pyridylmethyl)] (3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzyl)amine}, are reported. The complexes were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry, X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis and electrochemistry. These copper(ii) complexes have been investigated as catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde mediated by TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl) radical in water at ambient temperature. Mechanistic investigations have revealed that the phenolate/phenol is involved in the intramolecular proton transfer with a bound substrate in catalysis. Hence, the presence of the trifluoromethyl group on the phenol ring significantly affects the catalysis process since the substituent affects the acidity of phenol, and subsequently, the intramolecular proton transfer from the bound substrate. During catalysis, the dissociation of the auxiliary ligand (Cl - or OAc - ) occurred in the S N 1 pathway, and it is necessary for the substrate to bind. To complete the catalytic cycle, the cleaved auxiliary ligand rebinds to the metal center to regenerate the catalyst.

Four copper(ii) complexes with multidentate ligands, ([CuL1Cl2]), ([Cu(HL2)Cl2]), ([Cu2(L2)2](ClO4)2) and ([CuL3(HOCH3)ClO4]) {L1 = N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl) prop-2-yn-1-amine, HL2 = 2-((((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)phenol and HL3 = 2-((((1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methyl)(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino)methyl)-2-t-butyl-phenol} are reported. The complexes were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis and electrochemical analysis. Complexes and were further characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. The catalytic performances of these complexes were evaluated in the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in aqueous acetonitrile media. Under optimized reaction conditions, complex with the most negative reduction potential exhibited the highest conversion without considering the dinuclear complex . A correlation between the catalytic efficiency and the reduction potentials of these complexes was observed, that is the more negative the reduction potential, the higher the benzene conversion. A radical mechanism for the catalysis was confirmed by the fact that addition of radical scavengers such as TEMPO into the reaction mixture could severely suppress the catalysis.

Three multidentate ligands, L₁-L₃, derived from bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine (L₁) were synthesized. Reaction of these ligands with FeCl3·6H2O in methanol led to the formation of the iron complexes Fe₁-Fe₃ (Fe₁: [FeL₁Cl3]; Fe₂: [FeL₂Cl3]; Fe₃: [FeL₃Cl3]) in good yields. These complexes have been fully characterized. The structures of complexes Fe₁-Fe₃ have been determined using X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. Electrochemical investigation revealed that complex Fe₃ partially converts to Fe₄ ([FeL₃Cl2]PF6) by the replacement of one of its three chlorides with its pendant triazolyl group in solution. Fe₄ was also synthesized by dechlorination using AgPF6 as the Cl(-) abstractor and its composition was further confirmed by both elemental analysis and X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. All four complexes catalyze the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant in a mixed medium of water and acetonitrile. The reactivity of the complexes correlates well with their reduction potentials. The more negative the potential, the more reactive (high conversion rate) the catalysts. These complexes catalyze not only the oxidation of benzene, but also the further oxidation of the product, phenol. In the oxidation, a radical mechanism is certainly involved but an alternative pathway may also exist.

Three diiron complexes (1-Ph, 2-OH, and 3-OCOFc) as mimics of the diiron subunit of [FeFe]-hydrogenase were electrochemically investigated in 0.1 mol L(-1) [NBut(4)]BF(4)-acetonitrile (MeCN) under CO and Ar atmosphere. Complex 3-OCOFc was prepared from the reaction of complex 2-OH with ferrocenylacyl chloride (FcOCCl). The complex was fully characterised using a variety of spectroscopic techniques. Its structure was established using X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. In addition to the well-established ECE (E for electrochemical and C for chemical) mechanism, it was revealed that a further reversible reduction at a potential more negative by ca. 600 mV was observed under CO atmosphere. It was further proposed based on the analysis of electrochemical and infrared spectroscopic data that the second redox was due to a two-electron process of supposedly a tetrairon cluster. This product was formed in situ from the reaction between the dianion generated from the ECE process and its parent complex (1-Ph, 2-OH, and 3-OCOFc) and is supposedly of a core "Fe(4)(II)". This reaction occurred only when CO was presented. Under Ar atmosphere, bulk electrolysis led to fully-reduced products, that is, with the iron at the oxidation state of zero, but complex was an exception. An overall mechanism to describe the electron transfer and coupled chemical reactions under CO atmosphere was proposed.

Reaction of Fe(3)(CO)(12) with pyridinyl thioester ligand PyCH(2)SCOCH(3) (L(1), Py = pyridin-2-yl) produced complex, [Fe(2)(κ-COCH(3))(μ-SCH(2)Py)(CO)(5)] (1) (PyCH(2)S = pyridin-2-ylmethanethiolate). When complex 1 reacted with PPh(3), a monosubstituted complex, [Fe(2)(κ-COCH(3))(μ-SCH(2)Py)(CO)(4)PPh(3)] (2), was derived. Reaction of the same precursor with analogous thioester ligand PyCH(2)SCOPy (L(2)) generated three novel diiron complexes, [Fe(2)(κ-Py)(μ-SCH(2)Py)(CO)(5)] (3), [Fe(2)(κ-Py)'(μ-SCH(2)Py)(CO)(5)] (4), and [Fe(2)(κ-Py)(μ-SCH(2)Py)(CO)(6)] (5). Complexes 3 and 4 are structural isomers. Complex 5 could be converted into complex 4 but the conversion from complex 5 to the isomer 3 was not observed. All the five complexes were fully characterised using FTIR, NMR, and other techniques. Their structures were determined using X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. The oxidative formation of complexes 1, 3, 4, and 5 involved C-S and/or C-C bonds cleavages. To probe possible mechanisms for these cleavages, DFT calculations were performed. From the calculations, viable reaction pathways leading to the formation of all the isolated products were delineated. The results of the theoretic calculations also allowed rationalisation of the experimental observations.

Two diferrous complexes, [Fe(2)(μ-SCH(2)CH(3))(3)(CO)(5)I] and [Fe(2)(μ-SCH(2)CH(2)CH(3))(3)(CO)(5)I] were synthesised via reaction of a monoiron carbonyl precursor, [Fe(CO)(4)I(2)], with ethanethiolate and propanethiolate, respectively. The complexes were fully characterised using spectroscopic techniques, for instance, FTIR and NMR. Their crystal structures were determined using single crystal diffraction analysis. Electrochemical reduction of these complexes are temperature-dependent. At room temperature, the diferrous complexes undergo one-electron reduction. The reduction-initiated cleavage of one bound thiolate and one iodide as a radical, takes the oxidation states of the diiron core from {Fe(I)Fe(II)} to {Fe(I)Fe(I)}. This reduction-initiated transformation can be suppressed by lowering the temperature to 195 K, further reduction of the monoanion was observed at a potential very close to that of the first reduction, which is analogous to the mechanism observed for diiron complexes with a core of {Fe(I)Fe(I)}.

By using "click" chemistry between a diazide and a diiron model complex armed with two alkynyl groups, two polymeric diiron complexes (Poly-Py and Poly-Ph) were prepared. The two polymeric complexes were investigated using infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Mössbauer spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (Poly-Py only, due to the insolubility of Poly-Ph). To probe the coordinating mode of the diiron units in the two polymeric complexes, two control complexes (3 and 4) were also synthesised using a monoazide. Complexes 3 and 4 were well characterised and the latter was further crystallographically analysed. It turns out that in both complexes (3 and 4) and the two polymeric diiron complexes, one of the two iron atoms in the diiron unit coordinates with one of the triazole N atoms. Our results revealed that both morphologies and properties of Poly-Py and Poly-Ph are significantly affected by the organic moiety of the diazide. Compared to the protonating behaviour of the complexes 3 and 4, Poly-Py exhibited proton resistance. In electrochemical reduction, potentials for the reduction of the diiron units in Poly-Py and hence its catalytic reduction of proton in acetic acid-DMF shifted by over 400 mV compared to those for complexes 3 and 4. It is likely that the polymeric nature of Poly-Py offers the diiron units a "protective" environment in an acidic medium and more positive reduction potential.