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Objectives Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignant tumors. Propofol has been proposed to play a role of antitumor in various cancers. However, the functions and mechanisms of Propofol in cervical cancer is still not clear. Methods In vitro, the different concentrations of propofol were co-incubated with cervical cancer cell lines, including Hela, Caski and C-33A cells respectively. The pcDNA-HOTAIR plasmid was transfected into cells after the treatment of 10 μg/ml propofol. The cell viability and apoptosis were detected by MTT assay and TUNEL method. In vivo, propofol was injected into mice of transplantation tumor with Caski cells or with pcDNA-HOTAIR treated Caski cells. Results Propofol significantly decreased the cell viability and increased the cell apoptosis in Hela, Caski and C-33A cells, while HOTAIR overexpression promoted cell viability and inhibits cell apoptosis. mTOR/p70S6K protein expression levels were also markedly reduced by propofol but the effects were reversed with pcDNA-HOTAIR. In vivo, propofol inhibited the tumor size but had no inhibition effect in HOTAIR overexpression group. Conclusion Propofol inhibited tumor size, cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis via inhibiting mTOR/p70S6K pathway mediated by HOTAIR in cervical cancer.

We present an ultra-compact spectrometer that uses a 10×10 hole array as the dispersive component. Our analysis shows that the two-dimensional intensity distribution can be modeled by a system of simultaneous linear equations when the size of each hole in the dispersive component has been pre-designed appropriately. One can readily recover the spectral contents of the input radiation by solving the linear equation system with regularized procedure. Experimental results show that the reconstruction range is at least within the entire visible band, which can be further extended if a near-infrared CCD is used. One therefore envisions strong potential for many wavelength analysis applications.

Six copper(I) complexes {[Cu 2 ( L1 )(PPh 3 ) 2 I 2 ] · 2CH 2 Cl 2 } n ( 1 ), {[Cu 2 ( L2 )(PPh 3 ) 2 ]BF 4 } n ( 2 ), [Cu 2 ( L3 )(PPh 3 ) 4 I 2 ] · 2CH 2 Cl 2 ( 3 ), [Cu 2 ( L4 )(PPh 3 ) 4 I 2 ] ( 4 ), [Cu 2 ( L5 )(PPh 3 ) 2 I 2 ] ( 5 ) and [Cu 2 ( L6 )(PPh 3 ) 2 I 2 ] ( 6 ) have been prepared by reactions of bis(schiff base) ligands: pyridine-4-carbaldehyde azine ( L1 ), 1,2-bis(4′-pyridylmethyleneamino)ethane ( L2 ), pyridine-3-carbaldehyde azine ( L3 ), 1,2-bis(3′-pyridylmethyleneamino)ethane ( L4 ), pyridine-2-carbaldehyde azine ( L5 ), 1,2-bis(2′-pyridylmethyleneamino)ethane ( L6 ) with PPh 3 and copper(I) salt, respectively. Ligand L1 or L2 links (PPh 3 ) 2 Cu 2 (μ-I) 2 units to form an infinite coordination polymer chain. Ligand 3 or 4 acts as a monodentate ligand to coordinate two copper(I) atoms yielding a dimer. Ligand 5 or 6 chelates two copper(I) atoms using pyridyl nitrogen and imine nitrogen to form a dimer. Complexes 1 – 4 exhibit photoluminescence in the solid state at room temperature. The emission has been attributed to be intraligand π–π* transition mixed with MLCT characters.

In this Letter, a compact spectrometer based on upconversion and downconversion luminescence for operation in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet bands is presented. The proposed spectrometer has three components that are used for dispersion, frequency conversion, and detection. The conversion component converts the incident signal beam into a spectral window appropriate for the detection component. The detection component images the speckle pattern generated by scattering or diffraction in the random structure of the dispersion component. With the two-dimensional intensity data captured from both the speckle pattern and a calibration measurement process, one can reconstruct the spectra of the signal beam by solving a matrix equation. A smoothing simulated annealing algorithm has been implemented to improve the accuracy of the spectral reconstruction. We have analyzed possible sources of error in the algorithm and the corresponding limits of operation. The reported broadband, compact, high-resolution, luminescence-based spectrometer is well suited for portable spectroscopy applications.

A multiple-input multiple-output visible light communication (VLC) system based on disorder dispersion components is presented. Instead of monochromatic sources and large size photodetectors used in the traditional VLC systems, broadband sources with different spectra act as the transmitters and a compact imaging chip sensor accompanied by a disorder dispersion component and a calculating component serve as the receivers in the proposed system. This system has the merits of small size, more channels, simple structure, easy integration, and low cost. Simultaneously, the broadband sources are suitable to act as illumination sources for their white color. A regularized procedure is designed to solve a matrix equation for decoding the signals at the receivers. A proof-of-concept experiment using on–off keying modulation has been done to prove the feasibility of the design. The experimental results show that the signals decoded by the receivers fit well with those generated from the transmitters, but the bit error ratio is increased with the number of the signal channels. The experimental results can be further improved using a high-speed charge-coupled device, decreasing noises, and increasing the distance between the transmitters and the receivers.

The rhodium-catalyzed synthesis of phenazasilines from readily achievable biarylhydrosilanes is presented. This highly efficient method offers opportunities for preparing π-extended phenazasilines with enhanced optoelectronic properties for device applications in organic electronics.

Two unprecedented 3D polyknotted isomers, arisen from different linkage modes of SCN-, were obtained from 3,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole (Hbppz) and CuSCN under different conditions.

A microporous metal–organic framework (MOF) Eu3(MFDA)4(NO3)(DMF)3 (1, H2MFDA = 9,9-dimethylfluorene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid) has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 is a three-dimensional coordination polymer with pcu type rod-packing structure, through which 1D rhombic channels penetrate. The solvent-free form 1a could be obtained by direct heating of 1. Both 1 and 1a exhibit high intensity red light emissions with high quantum yields and long luminescence lifetimes when excited at 336 nm at ambient temperature. The potential of 1a for nitro explosive sensing is studied through luminescence quenching experiments, which show that 1a is a potential luminescent sensory material for nitro explosives.

Supramolecular steric hindrance designs make pyrene-functionalized spiro[fluorene-9,7'-dibenzo[c,h]acridine]-5'-one (Py-SFDBAO) assemble into 2D nanostructures that facilitate aqueous phase large-area synthesis of high-quality and uniform crystalline thin films. Thin-film diodes using aqueous nanosheets as active layers exhibit a non-volatile bistable electrical switching feature with ON/OFF ratios of 6.0 × 10(4) and photoswitching with conductive gains of 10(2) -10(3). Organic nanosheets are potentially key components for eco-friendly aqueous dispersed organic nano-inks in the application of printed and flexible electronics.

An efficient metal-free radical-catalyzed intramolecular silylation method has been developed for the preparation of all-aryl phenazasilines, which can be hardly synthesized by traditional synthetic methods. The easily prepared aromatic and rigid phenazasiline exhibits excellent solubility, high thermal stability, and good optoelectronic properties, which are highly attractive for optical and electronic applications in organic electronics. These advances, in the preparation of all-aryl phenazasilines, offer exciting opportunities for sophisticated molecular design and efficient synthesis of optoelectronic molecules based on the phenazasiline.

With the use of the tailored tricyanometalate precursors [(L)Fe(CN)(3)](-) (L = Tp, tris(pyrazolyl)hydroborate; L = i-BuTp, 2-methylpropyltris(pyrazolyl)borate) and terephthalate (ta) units as the mixed bridging ligands, a new one-dimensional (1D) chain polymer {[(Tp)(2)Fe(2)(CN)(6)Cu(2)(ta)(dmbpy)(2)] x 7 H(2)O}(n) (1), a pentanuclear heterometallic cluster [(Tp)(2)Fe(2)(CN)(6)Cu(3)(phen)(3)(ta)(2)(MeOH)(H(2)O)(2)] x 8 H(2)O (2), and a tetranuclear heterometallic cluster [(i-BuTp)(2)Fe(2)(CN)(6)Cu(2)(ta)(phen)(2)(EtOH)(2)] x 2 MeOH x H(2)O (3) (dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The Fe(III) and Cu(II) ions are bridged by cyanides, and the Cu(II) ions are further linked by terephthalate to form the 1D chain polymer, the pentanuclear cluster, and the tetranuclear cluster for complexes 1-3, respectively. All complexes show ferromagnetic interactions between the Fe(III) and Cu(II) ions. Complex 1 shows metamagnetic behavior with the critical field of about 1.2 T at 1.8 K.

Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) inhibits the inflammatory response and protects against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The inflammatory response is mediated by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and its related target genes and products such as vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecule and CXC chemokines. We aimed to assess the roles of those mediators in a UTI-treated mouse model of hepatic I/R injury.Treatment group 1 (UTI given 5 minutes prior to liver ischemia), treatment group 2 (UTI given 5 minutes after the anhepatic phase) and a control group were investigated. Blood and liver samples were obtained and compared at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hours after reperfusion.Attenuation of pathological hepatocellular damage was greater in the treatment groups than in the control group (P0.05). Compared with the control group, the UTI treatment groups showed significantly lower serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, decreased myeloperoxidase activity, and reduced NF-kappaB activation. Also downregulated was the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 at the mRNA level. P-selectin protein and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 protein expression were also downregulated. In addition, the treatment group 1 showed a better protective effect against I/R injury than the treatment group 2.UTI reduces NF-kappaB activation and downregulates the expression of its related mediators, followed by the inhibition of neutrophil aggregation and infiltration in hepatic I/R injury. The protective role of UTI is more effective in prevention than in treatment.

To compare the effect of novel direct cover vitrification (DCV) and conventional vitrification (CV) for human ovarian tissue.Ovarian biopsy specimens obtained from 12 patients were randomly allocated into five groups: Fresh, DCV1, DCV2, DCV3 and CV. Three concentrations of cryoprotectants were used in DCV group. The equilibration solution of DCV1, DCV2, DCV3 was 5% EG+5% DMSO+DPBS, 7.5% EG+7.5%DMSO+DPBS, 10% EG+10% DMSO+DPBS, respectively. And the vitrification solution of DCV1, DCV2, DCV3 was 10% EG+10% DMSO+DPBS, 15%EG+15% DMSO+DPBS, 20% EG+20% DMSO+DPBS, respectively. The equilibration solution and the vitrification solution of CV group was same as DCV3 group. The effects of cryopreserved procedure on human ovarian tissue were studied by histology, TUNEL assay, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and heterotopic allograft.The percentages of morphologically normal and viable follicles of DCV2 were significantly higher than DCV1, DCV3 and CV groups (P0.05). TUNEL assay demonstrated that the incidence of apoptotic cell in vitrification ovarian tissue was significantly higher than fresh tissue (P0.05), but there were no difference in various groups with cryopreservation. TEM showed that less damage was detected in DCV2 group. After grafting, the follicle density of DCV2 was greater than DCV1, DCV3 and CV groups (P0.05).The novel cover vitrification with optimal concentration of cryoprotectants is superior to conventional vitrification. It is suitable for human ovarian tissue fragments with high efficiency and facility.

Three homochiral layered complexes, [Cu3(R-chea)2(N3)6]n (1), [Cu3(S-chea)2(N3)6]n (2) (chea = 1-cyclohexylethylamine) and [Cu3(S-phpa)2(N3)6]n (3) (phpa = 1-phenylpropylamine), and three novel cluster-based coordination polymers, [Cu6(1,2-pn)4(N3)12]n (4) (1,2-pn = 1,2-diaminopropane), {[Cu8(en)4(N3)16]·H2O}n (5) (en = ethylenediamine) and [Cu6(N-Ipren)2(N3)12]n (6) (N-Ipren = N-isopropylethylenediamine), have been synthesized by the self-assembly reactions of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, NaN3 and small organic amine ligands. Their crystal structures are determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1–3 are composed of neutral 2D brick wall networks with only end-on azido bridges. Complexes 4 and 5 are 3D coordination polymers featuring copper–azido clusters and [Cu(diamine)2]2+ units which are linked by the azido bridges. Complex 6 is a 3D coordination framework based on the hexanuclear copper(II) clusters [Cu6(N3)12(N-Ipren)2]. Magnetic studies show that complexes 1–3 are interesting chiral ferromagnets with the magnetic transition temperature at ca. 5.0 K. Complexes 4 and 5 show ferromagnetic coupling in the copper–azido cluster units and antiferromagnetic interaction between neighboring units, while complex 6 shows ferromagnetic ordering at 3.2 K.

To investigate the expression of receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on SiSo cells (RCAS1) and estrogen receptor subtypes in normal, hyperplastic, and carcinomatous endometrium and to explore their possible roles in carcinogenesis and progression of endometrial carcinoma.Immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were applied to detect the protein and mRNA expression of RCAS1, estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ERbeta in 20 specimens of normal endometrium, 24 specimens of hyperplastic endometrium, and 50 specimens of carcinomatous endometrium. Western blotting was used to detect the RCAS1 protein expression.Normal endometrium and simple and complex hyperplastic endometrium showed a P pattern of RCAS1 expression; carcinomatous endometrium showed the D pattern; and the atypical hyperplastic endometrium showed both, 30% (6/20) of which showed D pattern. The high level RCAS1 protein expression rates of the normal, simple and complex hyperplasia, atypical hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma were 0% (0/20), 9.1% (2/22), 45.0% (9/20), and 68.0% (34/50) respectively with a significant difference between any 2 groups (all P0.05). The high level expression of RCAS1 was detected more frequently in the carcinomatous endometrium with deep myometrial invasion, vascular invasion, and positive of ERalpha (all P0.05). The Western blotting and RT-PCR results were correlated with the immunohistochemistry results. The RCAS1 mRNA level was positively correlated with the ERalphamRNA level (P0.01), but not correlated with the ERbetamRNA level (P0.05).The expression and distribution of RCAS1 may be involved in the malignant transformation of endometrium, and RCAS1 coexpression with ERalpha may be associated with the development and metastasis of endometrial carcinoma.

Two homochiral 2D-layered frameworks composed of a Cu2O2 core and dicyanamide (dca) linkers, [Cu((R)-hmp*)(dca)]n (1) and [Cu((S)-hmp*)(dca)]n (2) (hmp*=alpha-methyl-2-pyridinemethanol), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Preliminary investigations suggest that 1 and 2 show possible ferroelectric behaviors. Magnetic studies reveal the existence of strong antiferromagnetic interactions between the CuII centers in both complexes. The results demonstrate that 1 and 2 are multifunctional material candidates combining ferroelectric and antiferromagnetic properties in one molecule.

Solid C60/n‐GaAs heterojunctions have been fabricated by deposition of solid C60 film on the (100)‐oriented epitaxial n‐type GaAs substrates and their electrical characteristics have been measured. The rectification ratio is greater than 106 at a bias of ±1 V. The current for a fixed forward bias is an exponential function of reciprocal temperature, from which the effective potential barrier height of the heterojunction is determined to be 0.58 eV. A trap with an energy level 0.35 eV below the conduction band of GaAs at the C60/GaAs interface has been observed by the deep level transient spectroscopy technique.

Heterojunctions of solid C70 and n‐ or p‐type crystalline Si have been made. Current–voltage measurements show that both C70/n‐Si and C70/p‐Si contacts are rectifying but their directions of rectification are opposite to each other. Thermal activation measurements at a fixed forward bias show an exponential dependence of current on the reciprocal of temperature, from which we determine the effective barrier height as 0.23 eV for C70/n‐Si and 0.27 eV for C70/p‐Si. Relative dielectric constant of solid C70 was determined to be 4.96 through the study of high‐frequency capacitance–voltage characteristics for Ti/C70/p‐Si structures.

A series of ternary asymmetric triazines with tunable singlet and triplet excited states were successfully synthesized on the basis of σ-spacer methodology and a facile synthetic route. The optoelectronic properties are dominated by the conjugated donor–acceptor (D–A) backbone of peripheral carbazoles (D) and triazine core (A), and can be further modulated via the partially interrupted conjugation between the core and the third substituents by the σ spacers of N–CH3, NH, O, S and OSO, which offers new opportunities to fine tune the electronic structures and properties of triazines.

A metal-organic framework (MOF) {[Eu2(MFDA)2(HCOO)2(H2O)6]·H2O}n (1) (H2MFDA = 9,9-dimethylfluorene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid) has been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. 1 possesses the three-dimensional pcu type rod-packing structure with one-dimensional rhombic channels. The framework of 1 can reversibly shrink/swell along the c axis upon partial/full release of the water molecules. Correspondingly, the rhombic channels become narrow/large and 1 transforms to narrow-pore 1a/large-pore 1b. 1, 1a and 1b have almost the same excitation and emission spectra with the strong characteristic red-light-emission of Eu(III). A high photoluminescence quantum yield of 77% and long luminescence lifetime of around 1.1 ms was observed for 1. The potential of 1b for Fe(3+) ions and PA sensing was studied in DMF through the luminescence quenching experiments, which show 1b is a potential turn-off luminescent sensory material for the selective detection of Fe(3+) ions and PA with detection limits of around 10(-7) M for both of them. The fluorescence quenching mechanism for Fe(3+) ions and PA was also investigated.

An anthracene carboxamide derivative of the excited-state intramolecular proton-transfer compound of 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzothiazole has been newly developed to produce the prominent characteristics of aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE) with a high solid-state fluorescence quantum efficiency of 78.1%. Compared with our previously reported phenyl carboxamide derivatives, a small tailoring of the molecular structure was found to result in a big difference in the dominant factor of the AIEE mechanism. In the phenyl carboxamide derivatives, the dominant factor of the AIEE mechanism is the restriction of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) of the enol excited state, regardless of their different aggregation modes. In the anthracene carboxamide derivative, N-(3-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxyphenyl) anthracene-9-carboxamide, the AIEE characteristics are not dependent on the restriction of TICT, but mainly attributed to the cooperative effects of J-aggregation and the restriction of the cis-trans tautomerization in the keto excited state. A specific N···π interaction was found to be the main driving force for this J-aggregation, as revealed by the single crystal analysis. The AIEE mechanism of this anthracene carboxamide derivative was studied in detail through photophysical investigations and theoretical calculations. On the basis of its AIEE characteristics, a stable non-doped organic light-emitting diode was achieved, with high color purity and a remarkably low efficiency roll-off.

A series of Pt(II) complexes with different N⁁O ligands have been synthesized and characterized by NMR, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction studies. All complexes are non-emissive in dilute solution. Interestingly, they exhibit aggregation-induced phosphorescent emission (AIPE) with an absolute quantum efficiency of up to 38% in the crystal state. In addition, their AIPE properties can be tuned significantly by changing the chemical structures of N⁁O ligands. Furthermore, an AIPE mechanism of “restricted distortion of excited-state structure (RDES)” was proposed through experimental and theoretical investigations, which provided a rational design strategy for metallophosphors with tunable aggregation-induced phosphorescent emission. Considering their excellent emissive properties in aggregation state, the promising applications of these AIPE-active Pt(II) complexes in time-resolved luminescence assay utilizing the long emission lifetime of phosphorescent signal and targeted luminescence imaging of cancer cells have been demonstrated.

A vertical n-type permeable organic metal-base transistor was demonstrated. In this transistor, two kinds of n-type organic semiconductors of fullerene (C60) and tri(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq3) were used as emitter and collector, respectively, and the metal base was comprised of Al/Al2O3/LiF. The formation of a thin oxide film (Al2O3) on the metal aluminum (Al) surface by thermally annealing makes the base self-selected charge carrier characteristic. As a result, the device exhibits low leakage current, and the common-base and common-emitter current gains reach near 1 and 30 at less than 1 V bias, respectively.

A series of square-planar Pt(II) complexes [Pt(C^N)(O^O)] (1–5) (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine, O^O denotes a series of β-diketonate ligands) is reported. Detailed studies of theoretical calculations, electrochemical and photophysical properties have shown that their excited states can be attributed to the mixing of 3MLCT, 3LLCT and 3LC/3ILCT transitions. For 1, the excited state is dominated by the C^N ligand. The excited states of complexes 2–5, however, are dominated by O^O ligands. Through variation of the β-diketonate ligands, the emission colors of 1–5 can be tuned from blue-green to yellow. Further investigations have revealed that the emission of 4 in the solid state can be attributed to the 3MLCT and 3LLL'CT transitions, which has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies as well as theoretical calculations. Moreover, exclusive staining of cytoplasm and low cytotoxicity have been observed for 1–4, which makes them promising candidates as phosphorescent probes for bioimaging.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C4H12N22+·2C5H3N2O4−·4H2O, comprises one-half of a piperazine-1,4-diium cation, which lies on an inversion centre, a 2-carboxy-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate anion and two water molecules. An extensive network of intermolecular O—H...O, N—H...O, N—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds between the cations, anions and water molecules leads to a three-dimensional supramolecular framework.

Three new coordination polymers with 1,2,3-triazolate ligands, [Cd3(ta)3Cl3]n (1), {[Cd3(ta)6]·6H2O}n (2) and [Cu6(ta)3I3]n (3) (Hta = 1,2,3-triazole), have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. In complex 1, the Cd2+ and Cl− ions form a 3D [(Cd3Cl3)3+]n inorganic framework with (82.12)(4.8.10) topology while the Cd2+ ions and ta− ligands give a {[Cd3(ta)3]3+}n double helical chain. The two moieties are fused with each other by sharing “hinge” Cd2+ ions leading to a 3D organic–inorganic hybrid structure. The 3D porous metal–organic framework of complex 2 shows the topology of the diamond net with the Cd-centered CdCd4 tetrahedron units as the connecting nodes. The desolvated structure of 2 has 48% solvent accessible space of the total volume. Complex 3 is an undulating 1D organic–inorganic hybrid complex consisting of interesting discrete five-capped [Cu6I5]− triangular prism clusters and arched metallacycle [Cu6(ta)6I]+ moieties.

Three N,N-bidentate ligands, 5,5'-dibromo-2,2-bipyridine (L1) and two carbazole containing ligands of 5-bromo-5'-carbazolyl-2,2-bipyridine (L2), 5,5'-dicarbazolyl-2,2'-bipyridine (L3), and their corresponding rhenium Re(CO)3Cl(L) complexes (ReL1-ReL3) have been successfully synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR and IR spectra. Their photophysical properties and thermal analysis, along with the X-ray crystal structure analysis of L3 and complexes ReL1 and ReL3 are also described. In CH2Cl2 solution at room temperature, all complexes display intense absorption bands at ca. 220-350 nm, which can be assigned to spin-allowed intraligand (pi-->pi*) transitions, and the low energy broad bands in the 360-480 nm region are attributed to the metal to ligand charge-transfer d(Re)-->pi* (diimine) (MLCT). The introduction of carbazole moieties improves the MLCT absorption and molar extinction coefficient of these complexes. Upon excitation at the peak maxima, all complexes show strong emissions around 620 nm, which are assigned to d(Re)-->pi* (diimine) MLCT phosphorescence. The photoluminescence lifetime decay of Re(I) complexes were measured and the quantum efficiencies of the rhenium(I) complexes were calculated by using air-equilibrated [Ru(bpy)3]2+ x 2 Cl- aqueous solution as standard (phi(std) = 0.028). The complexes with appended carbazole moieties exhibit enhanced luminescence performances relative to ReL1.

Six three-dimensional nanoporous lanthanide coordination polymers, [Ln2(bpdc)3(HCOOH)2]n [Ln = Eu (1), Sm (2), La (3), Ce (4), Gd (5) and Nd (6)], were prepared by the solvothermal reactions of the LnIII ions with 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxylate (H2bpdc) in DMF solution. Crystallographic data show that compounds 1–6 are isomorphous and crystallize in monoclinic, space groupC2. Each LnIII is eight-coordinated to seven O atoms from six bpdc2− ligands and one O atom from HCOOH molecule in distorted bisdisphenoid coordination geometry. The adjacent LnIII ions are intraconnected by the carboxylate groups of the bpdc2− ligands to form a 1D inorganic rod-shaped chain [Ln(CO2)3]n. The inorganic chains are interconnected by the biphenyl groups, giving rise to a 3D framework that consists in two types of 1D open channels, with 15.11 × 27.05 A rhombic channels along the b axis and 8.66 × 15.91 A quadrate channels along the c axis without interpenetration. Compounds 1 and 6 are strong luminescent materials which exhibit characteristic EuIII emission bands in the visible region for 1 and NdIII emission bands in the near IR region for 6 upon excitation at 360 nm. The absence of the ligand emission can be ascribed to the energy transfer from the bpdc2− ligand to the LnIII ion during photoluminescence. The magnetic properties of compounds 1, 4, 5 and 6 have been investigated through the measurement of their magnetic susceptibilities over the temperature range of 1.8–300 K.

Three tricyanometalate precursors, (Bu4N)[(PhTp)Fe(CN)3]-H 2 O (1), (Bu4N)[(MeTp)Fe(CN)3] (2), and (Bu 4 N)[(iBuTp)-Fe(CN) 3 ] (3) [Bu 4 N + = tetrabutylammonium cation; PhTp = tris(pyrazolyl)phenylborate; MeTp = methyltris(pyrazolyl)-borate; iBuTp = 2-methylpropyltris(pyrazolyl)borate], were successfully synthesized. By using 1-3 as building blocks, four rectangular clusters, [(PhTp)Fe(CN)3Cu(bpy)(H 2 O)-(ClO 4 )] 2 .2H 2 O (4; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), [(PhTp)Fe(CN) 3 Ni-(tren)] 2 (ClO 4 ) 2 [5; tren = tris(2-amino)ethylamine], [(MeTp)-Fe(CN)3Ni(tren)]2(ClO 4 )2-2H 2 O (6), and [(iBuTp)Fe(CN) 3 Ni-(tren)]2(ClO 4 )2·2H 2 O·2CH 3 OH (7), were prepared in parallel and structurally characterized. All clusters show similar square structures, where Fe III and M II (M = Cu II or Ni II ) ions are alternatively located on the rectangle corners. The cyclic voltammograms of Fe III 2 Ni II 2 clusters 5-7 reveal two quasi-reversible iron-centered reduction processes and two quasi-reversible nickel-centered oxidation processes. Magnetic studies show intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling and appreciable magnetic anisotropy in clusters 4-7. Complexes 5-7 show obvious frequency dependence in the alternating current magnetic susceptibility data, which indicates single-molecule magnet behavior with preexponential factors of TO = 4.5 X 10 -8 s (5), 6.1 x 10 -8 s (6), and 5.0 X 10 -8 s (7) and the effective spin-reversal barriers of U eff = 17.5 K (5), 20.6 K (6), and 20.8 K (7).