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Biodegradable, non-toxic, "green" and inexpensive propylene carbonate (PC) solvent is shown to function as a stabilizing medium for the synthesis of weakly-coordinated transition-metal nanoparticles. Kinetically stable nanoparticles (M-NPs) with a small and uniform particle size (typically <5 ± 1 nm) have been reproducibly obtained by easy, rapid (3 min) and energy-saving 50 W microwave irradiation under an argon atmosphere from their metal-carbonyl precursors in PC. The M-NP/PC dispersions are stable for up to three weeks according to repeated TEM studies over this time period. The rhodium nanoparticle/PC dispersion is a highly active catalyst for the biphasic liquid-liquid hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane with activities of up to and 1875 (mol product) (mol Rh)(-1) h(-1) and near quantitative conversion at 4 to 10 bar H(2) and 90 °C. From the PC dispersion the M-NPs can be coated with organic capping ligands such as 3-mercaptopropionic acid or trioctylphosphine oxide for further stabilization.

Water-stable MIL-101 microcrystals adhere well to polysulfone (PSF) and yield a very robust mixed-matrix MIL-101-PSF membrane for the O(2)/N(2) separation with a selectivity of 5-6 and an unsurpassed O(2) permeability increase by a factor of four to above 6 barrer for MIL-101 loadings of 24%., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012)

Silver(I) coordination complexes with the versatile and biomimetic ligands 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (tp), 5,7-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dmtp) and 7-amine-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (7atp) all feature dinuclear [Ag(2)(μ-tp)(2)](2+) building units (where tp is a triazolopyrimidine derivative), which are the preferred motif, independently of the counter-anion used. According to AIM (atoms in molecules) and ELF (electron localization function) analyses, this fact is due to the great stability of these dinuclear species. The complexes structures range from the dinuclear entities [Ag(2)(μ-tp)(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)](BF(4))(2) (1), [Ag(2)(μ-tp)(2)(CH(3)CN)(4)](ClO(4))(2) (2), [Ag(2)(μ-7atp)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (3) and [Ag(2)(μ-dmtp)(2)(CH(3)CN)](PF(6))(ClO(4)) (4) over the 1D polymer chain [Ag(2)(μ-CF(3)SO(3))(2)(μ-dmtp)(2)](n) (5) to the 3D net {[Ag(2)(μ(3)-tp)(2)](PF(6))(2)·∼6H(2)O}(n) (6) with NbO topology.

The metal-centered Δ/Λ-chirality of four-coordinated, nonplanar Zn(A(^)B)(2) complexes is correlated to the chirality of the bidentate enantiopure (R)-A(^)B or (S)-A(^)B Schiff base building blocks [A(^)B = (R)- or (S)-N-(1-(4-X-phenyl)ethyl)salicylaldiminato-κ(2)N,O with X = OCH(3), Cl, Br]. In the solid-state the (R) ligand chirality induces a Λ-M configuration and the (S) ligand chirality quantitatively gives the Δ-M configuration upon crystallization as deduced from X-ray single crystal studies. The diastereoselections of the pseudotetrahedral zinc-Schiff base complexes in CDCl(3) solution were investigated by (1)H NMR and by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy. The appearance of two signals for the Schiff-base -CH═N- imine proton in (1)H NMR indicates an equilibrium of both Δ- and Λ-diastereomers with a diastereomeric ratio of roughly 20:80% for all three ligands. VCD proved to be very sensitive to the metal-centered Δ/Λ-chirality because of a characteristic band representing coupled vibrations of the two ligand's C═N stretch modes. The absolute configuration was assigned on the basis of agreement in sign with theoretical VCD spectra from Density Functional Theory calculations.

The synthesis of Co-NPs and Mn-NPs by microwave-induced decomposition of the metal carbonyls Co(2)(CO)(8) and Mn(2)(CO)(10), respectively, yields smaller and better separated particles in the functionalized IL 1-methyl-3-(3-carboxyethyl)-imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [EmimCO(2)H][BF(4)] (1.6 ± 0.3 nm and 4.3 ± 1.0 nm, respectively) than in the non-functionalized IL 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [Bmim][BF(4)]. The particles are stable in the absence of capping ligands (surfactants) for more than six months although some variation in particle size could be observed by TEM., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011)

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Mg(C(3)H(7)NO)(4)(H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2), in which the Mg ion lies on a crystallographic inversion centre, confirms that of the previous room-temperature study [Pavanello et al. (1995 ▶). Main Group Met. Chem.18, 9-19]. This redetermination at 113 K has improved geometry precision by almost an order of magnitude [e.g. Mg-O(w) (w = water) distances = 2.094 (4) and 2.0899 (7) Å in the old and new structures, respectively] and allowed the water H atoms to be located and their positions refined. In the crystal, O-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds between the two aqua ligands of the complex mol-ecule and neighboring chloride counter-anions generate supra-molecular chains propagating along [010]. The dicationic [Mg(DMF)(4)(H(2)O)(2)] unit (DMF is dimethyl-formamide) adopts a slightly distorted octa-hedral geometry in which the Mg atom is coordinated by four DMF O atoms in a pseudo-tetra-gonal arrangement and two trans aqua ligands.

Three 5,5'-dicarbamate-2,2'-bipyridine ligands (L = L(1)-L(3)) bearing ethyl, isopropyl or tert-butyl terminals, respectively, on the carbamate substituents were synthesized. Reaction of the ligands L with the transition metal ions M = Fe(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) or Ru(2+) gave the complexes ML(n)X(2)·xG (1-12, n = 1-3; X = Cl, NO(3), ClO(4), BF(4), PF(6), ½SO(4); G = Et(2)O, DMSO, CH(3)OH, H(2)O), of which [Fe(L(2))(3) ⊃ SO(4)]·8.5H(2)O (2), [Fe(L(1))(3) ⊃ (BF(4))(2)]·2CH(3)OH (7), [Fe(L(2))(3) ⊃ (Et(2)O)(2)](BF(4))(2)·2CH(3)OH (8), [ZnCl(2)(L(1))][ZnCl(2)(L(1))(DMSO)]·2DMSO (9), [Zn(L(1))(3) ⊃ (NO(3))(2)]·2H(2)O (10), [Zn(L(2))(3) ⊃ (ClO(4))(Et(2)O)]ClO(4)·Et(2)O·2CH(3)OH·1.5H(2)O (11), and [Cu(L(1))(2)(DMSO)](ClO(4))(2)·2DMSO (12) were elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In the complexes ML(n)X(2)·xG the metal ion is coordinated by n = 1, 2 or 3 chelating bipyridine moieties (with other anionic or solvent ligands for n = 1 and 2) depending on the transition metal and reaction conditions. Interestingly, the carbamate functionalities are involved in hydrogen bonding with various guests (anions or solvents), especially in the tris(chelate) complexes which feature the well-organized C(3)-clefts for effective guest inclusion. Moreover, the anion binding behavior of the pre-organized tris(chelate) complexes was investigated in solution by fluorescence titration using the emissive [RuL(3)](2+) moiety as a probe. The results show that fluorescent recognition of anion in solution can be achieved by the Ru(II) complexes which exhibit good selectivities for SO(4)(2-).

The in situ formed hydrazone Schiff base ligand (E)-N'-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzoylhydrazone (H₂L¹) reacts with copper(II) acetate in ethanol in the presence of pyridine-4-carboxylic acid (isonicotinic acid, HL²) to green-[Cu(HL¹)(L²)]·H₂O·C₂H₅OH (1) and brown-[Cu(L¹)(HL²)] (2) complexes which crystallize as concomitant tautomers where either the mono-anion (HL¹)⁻ or di-anion (L¹)²⁻ of the Schiff base and simultaneously the pyridine-carboxylate (L²)⁻ or the acid (HL²) (both through the pyridine nitrogen atom) function as ligands. The square-planar molecular copper(II) complexes differ in only a localized proton position either on the amide nitrogen of the hydrazone Schiff base in 1 or on the carboxyl group of the isonicotin ligand in 2. The proportion of the tautomeric forms in the crystalline solid-state can be controlled over a wide range from 1:2 = 95 : 5 to ∼2 : 98 by increasing the solution concentration. UV/Vis spectral studies show both tautomers to be kinetically stable (inert), that is, with no apparent tautomerization, in acetonitrile solution. The UB3LYP/6-31+G* level optimized structures of the two complexes are in close agreement with experimental findings. The solid-state structures feature 1D hydrogen-bonded chain from charge-assisted O((-))H-N and O-H((-))N hydrogen bonding in 1 and 2, respectively. In 1 pyridine-4-carboxylate also assumes a metal-bridging action by coordinating a weakly bound carboxylate group as a fifth ligand to a Cu axial site. Neighboring chains in 1 and 2 are connected by strong π-stacking interactions involving also the five- and six-membered, presumably metalloaromatic Cu-chelate rings.

The achiral chelating and bridging dihydroxymalonato (mesoxalato) ligand is a new enantiopurity enforcer in extended structures by yielding the Λ/Δ-metal configured homochiral MOFs 2D-[Ln(2)(μ-mesoxalato)(3)(H(2)O)(6)] (Ln = La(III), Gd(III)) through self-resolution during crystal growth.

Two new molecule-based materials of formulas 3D-{[K(H(2)O)(6)](0.5)[K(18-crown-6)](0.5)[MnCu(3)(Hmesox)(3)].5.25H(2)O} (1) and 3D-{(Ph(4)P)(2)[MnCu(3)(Hmesox)(3)Cl].3.5H(2)O} (2) have been prepared from a tricopper(II) secondary building unit (SBU), [Cu(3)(Hmesox)(3)](3-) (H(4)mesox = mesoxalic acid, 2-dihydroxymalonic acid). Compound 1 is obtained by means of the reaction of the SBU with manganese(II) acetate in the presence of potassium cations and the 18-crown-6 ether, whereas compound 2 is obtained by means of the reaction of the SBU with manganese(II) acetate in the presence of Ph(4)PCl. The [MnCu(3)(Hmesox)(3)](-) and [MnCu(3)(Hmesox)(3)Cl](2-) moieties in compounds 1 and 2, respectively, yield chiral 3-connected three-dimensional (3D) anionic (10,3)-a (srs, SrSi(2)) nets. In the cubic and centrosymmetric structures (Pa3) of 1, two inversion-symmetry-related anion nets interpenetrate to a racemic structure. The Ph(4)P(+) cations in 2 are organized in a supramolecular (10,3)-a net through the 6-fold phenyl embrace. In 2, both the cationic and anionic nets are homochiral and enantiopure with opposite handedness and form interpenetrating supramolecular and covalent (10,3)-a nets in the noncentrosymmetric Sohncke space group P 2(1)2(1)2(1). Both compounds display ferrimagnetic interaction with long-range magnetic ordering below 2.5 and 15.2 K for 1 and 2, respectively. A dehydrated phase of 2 exhibits a T(c) of 21.8 K. The saturation of magnetization, M(S), indicates two different ground states, S = (1)/(2) and (3)/(2), for the tricopper(II) units in 1 and 2, respectively. The different spin states of the tricopper(II) unit in 1 and 2 has been explained by means of a density functional theory (DFT) study performed in the [Cu(3)(Hmesox)(3)](3-) and [Cu(3)(Hmesox)(3)Cl](4-) fragments, for 1 and 2, respectively. A further DFT study has allowed one to analyze the structural parameters that lead to the different spin ground states for the trinuclear units in both compounds.

The palladium(II) complex [Pd(C(6)F(5))Cl(bpzm*)] (5) [bpzm* = bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methane] was characterized by (1)H,(1)H-TOCSY, (1)H-NOE difference spectra, (1)H,(19)F-HOESY and (13)C,(1)H-HMBC 2D-NMR techniques. Chemical exchange of the methylene protons from (1)H,(1)H-NOESY cross peaks and exchange of the ortho- and meta-fluorine atoms, respectively, from (19)F,(19)F-EXSY cross peaks indicates that the Pd-bpzm* chelate ring boat-to-boat inversion occurs at a rate slower than the NMR time scale together with a concomitant change of the C(6)F(5) atom positions. The presence of three (19)F-NMR signals for 2F(o) : 1F(p) : 2F(m) of the C(6)F(5) ligand for complexes [Pd(C(6)F(5))Cl(tmeda)] (1) and [Pd(C(6)F(5))Cl(bipy)] (3) (tmeda = N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine; bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) is interpreted as being due to identical hemi-spaces above and below an apparent symmetry plane coinciding with the Pd-coordination plane instead of free ring rotation. The molecular structures of 1, 3 and 5 from single-crystal studies suggest that the hindered C(6)F(5) rotation is not limited to 5 but is also present in 1 and 3 due to ligand repulsion. Complexes [Pd(C(6)F(5))Cl(tmeda)] (1), [Pd(C(6)F(5))OH(tmeda)] (2), [Pd(C(6)F(5))Cl(bipy)] (3), [Pd(C(6)F(5))OH(bipy)] (4) and [Pd(C(6)F(5))Cl(bpzm*)] (5) have been applied as pre-catalysts for the vinyl homopolymerization of norbornene in combination with the cocatalyst methylaluminoxane (MAO). Activities of more than 10(6) g(polymer)/(mol(Pd) h) could be reached with these catalytic systems. Based on the spectrochemical series, pre-catalysts 1 and 2 with the pure sigma-donor and more weakly bound aliphatic amine ligands showed higher polymerization activities than compounds 3-5 with modest pi-accepting and stronger bound aromatic substituents. This is reasoned with a kinetic activation effect through a faster removal of the more weakly bound ligands upon reaction with MAO together with the chloro or hydroxo ligands to give the active, almost "naked" Pd(2+) cations. For the activation mechanism, (1)H-, (13)C- and (19)F-NMR studies of the MAO activated complex 5 showed about 13% chlorine-to-methyl exchange for a molar Pd : Al ratio of 1 : 10. For 5 : MAO at a Pd : Al ratio of 1 : 100 abstraction of C(6)F(5) takes place with a redox reaction giving Pd metal and C(6)F(5)-CH(3) in the absence of norbornene monomer.

A series of new 7-azaindolyl palladium and platinum complexes have been prepared. The X-ray structure determinations of [NBu(4)][M(C(6)F(5))(2)(Haza-N7)(aza-N1)].Haza [M = Pd, Pt; aza = 7-azaindolate (lH-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridinate)] have established for the first time the coordination to the same metal centre of both neutral and anionic forms of the ligand. Theoretical calculations at the mPW1B95/aug6-31G**/StRSCecp level show that both kinetic and thermodynamic arguments support the observed coordination and H-bonding interaction of the pyrrolo and pyridine moieties of the neutral and deprotonated heterocyclic ligands. At 48 h incubation time the new platinum complex [Pt(dmba)(aza-N1)(DMSO)] (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-kappaN,kappaC) shows sub-micromolar activity both in A2780 and T47D [IC(50) (microM) = 0.34 and 0.53, respectively]. The DNA adduct formation of the new platinum complexes was followed by circular dichroism and electrophoretic mobility.

Stable chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, and iridium metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) have been reproducibly obtained by facile, rapid (3 min), and energy-saving 10 W microwave irradiation (MWI) under an argon atmosphere from their metal-carbonyl precursors [M(x)(CO)(y)] in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF(4)]). This MWI synthesis is compared to UV-photolytic (1000 W, 15 min) or conventional thermal decomposition (180-250 degrees C, 6-12 h) of [M(x)(CO)(y)] in ILs. The MWI-obtained nanoparticles have a very small (<5 nm) and uniform size and are prepared without any additional stabilizers or capping molecules as long-term stable M-NP/IL dispersions (characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), and dynamic light scattering (DLS)). The ruthenium, rhodium, or iridium nanoparticle/IL dispersions are highly active and easily recyclable catalysts for the biphasic liquid-liquid hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane with activities of up to 522 (mol product) (mol Ru)(-1) h(-1) and 884 (mol product) (mol Rh)(-1) h(-1) and give almost quantitative conversion within 2 h at 10 bar H(2) and 90 degrees C. Catalyst poisoning experiments with CS(2) (0.05 equiv per Ru) suggest a heterogeneous surface catalysis of Ru-NPs.

A second-sphere complex [Co(DABP)(3)][Fe(CN)(6)] (1) (DABP = 5,5'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine) is constructed from [Co(DABP)(3)](3+) and [Fe(CN)(6)](3-) through charge-assisted N-H((NH(2)))N((CN)) hydrogen bonds; hexagonal microrods of 1 are obtained via a facile self-assembly method in the presence of surfactant.

Ionic liquids function as a nanosynthetic template for a "ligand-free" stepwise formation of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) which can be stopped and resumed at different color steps and Au-NP sizes (between 2.6 and 200 nm median diameter) and which can be reasoned by the DFT-calculation stabilization order: H(2)O (no Au-NP stabilization) < IL anion, e.g. BF(4)(-) approximately = PH(3) < citrate

Self-assembly of the [Fe(DABP)(3)]SO(4) (DABP = 5,5'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine) or [Fe(bipy)(3)]SO(4) (bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) complex with a tripodal tris(3-pyridylurea) ligand (L) results in a layered structure that includes a sulfate anion in the cleft of one L molecule. The two compounds, [Fe(DABP)(3)][SO(4) L] x 10 H(2)O (2) and [Fe(bipy)(3)][SO(4) L] x 9 H(2)O (3), show very similar sheets formed by the anionic units [SO(4) L](2-) and cationic building blocks ([Fe(DABP)(3)](2+) or [Fe(bipy)(3)](2+)). However, there are different water clusters that link the adjacent layers in the two products, that is, water parallelograms and quasi "water cubes" in 2 versus single water molecules, water dimers, and hexamers in 3. The half-encapsulation of sulfate by a single L molecule contrasts with the previously reported full-encapsulation of the sulfate ion by two L molecules in [M(H(2)O)(6)][SO(4) L(2)] (1). This different anion encapsulation is traced to the hydrogen-acceptor properties of the pyridyl groups of L together with the hydrogen-bonding properties of the cation secondary coordination sphere for a solid-state packing optimization. In 1 the direct hydrogen bonding from the secondary coordination sphere of octahedral [M(H(2)O)(6)](2+) to L-pyridyl helps in the formation of an octahedral cation-anion coordination in the NaCl-type structure. In 2 and 3, crystal water instead of the cations has to satisfy the hydrogen-accepting demands of L. Consequently, a non-spherical and only partly water-surrounded half-encapsulated [SO(4) L](2-) anion allows for a closer approach of the [Fe(DABP)(3)](2+) or [Fe(bipy)(3)](2+) cations than the [SO(4) L(2)](2-) anion. Then, the similar cation and anion size in 2 and 3 with the Coulomb attraction confined to a two-dimensional plane leads to the formation of a hexagonal BN (or graphite) lattice. Competition experiments with different anions for compound 2 reveal that SO(4)(2-) can be selectively crystallized against NO(3)(-), OAc(-), or ClO(4)(-).

Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) were reproducibly obtained by thermal, photolytic, or microwave-assisted decomposition/reduction under argon from Au(CO)Cl or KAuCl(4) in the presence of n-butylimidazol dispersed in the ionic liquids (ILs) BMIm(+)BF(4)(-), BMIm(+)OTf(-), or BtMA(+)NTf(2)(-) (BMIm(+) = n-butylmethylimidazolium, BtMA(+) = n-butyltrimethylammonium, OTf(-) = (-)O(3)SCF(3), NTf(2)(-) = (-)N(O(2)SCF(3))(2)). The ultra small and uniform nanoparticles of about 1-2 nm diameter were produced in BMIm(+)BF(4)(-) and increased in size with the molecular volume of the ionic liquid anion used in BMIm(+)OTf(-) and BtMA(+)NTf(2)(-). Under argon the Au-NP/IL dispersion is stable without any additional stabilizers or capping molecules. From the ionic liquids, the gold nanoparticles can be functionalized with organic thiol ligands, transferred, and stabilized in different polar and nonpolar organic solvents. Au-NPs can also be brought onto and stabilized by interaction with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, Teflon) surface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations favor interactions between IL anions instead of IL cations. This suggests a AuF interaction and anionic Au(n) stabilization in fluorine-containing ILs. The (19)F NMR signal in BMIm(+)BF(4)(-) shows a small Au-NP concentration-dependent shift. Characterization of the dispersed and deposited gold nanoparticles was done by transmission electron microscopy (TEM/HRTEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron spin resonance (ESR), and electron probe micro analyses (EPM, SEM/EDX).

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C6H4NO2)(C2H3O2)(C3H4N2)(H2O)].0.87H2O, has a square-pyramidal-coordinated Cu(II) centre (the imidazole is trans to the picolinate N atom, the acetate is trans to the picolinate -CO2 group and the aqua ligand is in a Jahn-Teller-elongated apical position) and has two symmetry-independent molecules in the unit cell (Z' = 2), which are connected through complementary imidazole-picolinate N-H...O hydrogen bonding. The two partially occupied solvent water molecules are each disordered over two positions. The disordered solvent water molecules, together with pseudosymmetry elements, support the notion that a crystal structure with multiple identical chemical formula units in the structural asymmetric unit (Z' > 1) can represent a crystal 'on the way', that is, a kinetic intermediate form which has not yet reached its thermodynamic minimum. Neighbouring molecules form pi-pi stacks between their imidazole and picolinate N-heterocycles, with centroid-centroid distances in the range 3.582 (2)-3.764 (2) A.

In the title complex, [Cu(C(5)H(3)O(2)S)(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2))(H(2)O)], the Cu(II) atom is in a distorted square-pyramidal environment, with an Addison τ parameter of 0.07. The coordination geometry is defined by two nitro-gen donors from the 2,2'-bipyridine ligand, two O atoms from two monodentate thio-phene-2-carboxyl-ate ligands and one O atom from the aqua ligand. The latter occupies the elongated apical position. This is different from the related structure of aqua-(1,10-phenanthroline)bis-(thio-phene-2-carboxyl-ato)copper(II) where a carboxyl-ate O atom is in the apical position [Feng et al. (2005 ▶). Z. Kristallogr. New Cryst. Struct.220, 429-430]. The uncoordinated carboxyl-ate O atoms form intra- and inter-molecular hydrogen bonds to the aqua ligand. Two neighbouring 2,2'-bipyridine ligands form a π-stack, with a centroid-centroid distance of 3.683 (2) Å.

The dimeric complex acetato(eta4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I), [Rh(O2CMe)(eta4-cod)]2 (cod = cycloocta-1,5-diene) reacts with N,O-chelating Schiff-base ligands or with N-phenylglycine to afford the diminato- or aminocarboxylato(4-cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I) complexes [{Rh(eta4-cod)}2(salen)] (1), [{Rh(eta4-cod)}2(salophen)] (2), [Rh((S)-N-phenylglycinato)(eta4-cod)] (3S), [Rh(rac-N-phenylglycinato)(eta4-cod)] (3rac), [Rh((R)-N-(4-methoxphenyl)ethyl-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato)(eta4-cod)] (4) and [Rh(N-(o-tolyl)-2-oxo-1-naphthaldiminato)(eta4-cod)] (5) [salen2- = N,N-ethylene-bis(salicylaldiminato), salophen2- = N,N-(1,2-phenylene)-bis(salicylaldiminato)]. The complexes are characterized by IR-, UV/Vis-, 1H/13C-NMR- and mass-spectroscopy. Complexes 1, 2, 4 and 5 contain six-membered metallaaromatic Rh-(N-CCC-O)-chelate rings which accept C-H...pi contacts. The crystal structure of 2 presents a polymorph (dimorph) (2a) to a previously reported structure (2b, CSD refcode SCLIRB10). Polymorphic forms 2a and 2b are traced to a different interlocking of adjacent dinuclear molecules with their corrugated van der Waals surface. The achiral N-phenylglycine ligand gives a chiral N-phenylglycinato complex [Rh(O2C-CH2-NHPh)(eta4-cod)] (3) with the nitrogen atom becoming the stereogenic center upon metal coordination. Complex 3 can crystallize as the enantiomorph 3S in the tetragonal, chiral space group P41 in a spontaneous resolution of the racemic mixture into homo-chiral helix-enantiomers due to inter-molecular N-H...O hydrogen bonding which connects only molecules of the same (S-) configuration into (right-handed or P-) 41-helical chains. Variation of the crystallization conditions gives 3 as a racemic polymorphic 3rac. R- and S-complexes 3 assemble in the polymorph 3rac in parallel chains along the 21-axes through N-HO hydrogen bonding. Again, only molecules of the same configuration are combined into a chain, albeit neighboring chains have complexes of opposite configuration. The chiral enantiomeric naphthaldiminato complex 4 displays a herring-bone arrangement. Achiral compound 5 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric polar space group Cc where all molecules show the same orientation.

The dark-blue crystal color of {(C(4)H(12)N(2))(2)[Cu(I)I(4)](I(2))}(n), its mixture of I(-), I(3)(-) and linear I(4)(2-) or linear I(5)(-) polyiodide species in a linear channel arrangement, its channel diameter of approximately 5.5 A and the helical arrangement of the hydrogen bonded {(C(4)H(12)N(2))(2)[Cu(I)I(4)]}(+) supramolecular host around the channels agree with the description of the classical, yet structurally elusive, starch-iodine compound.

The hydrothermal reaction of M(NO(3))(2).4H(2)O (M = Zn and Cd) with benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H(2)bdc) or benzene-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (H(2)ip) and 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane (btre) produced the mixed-ligand coordination polymers (MOFs) {[Zn(2)(micro(2)-bdc)(2)(micro(4)-btre)]} (), {[Cd(2)(micro(4)-bdc)(micro(4)-btre)(2)](NO(3))(2).H(2)O} and {[Zn(2)(micro(3)-ip)(2)(micro(2)-btre)(H(2)O)(2)].2H(2)O} (). The compounds, characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction, solid-state cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle-spinning (MAS) (13)C NMR and thermoanalysis, feature 3D metal-organic frameworks for and and 2D double layers which are connected through hydrogen bonds from the aqua ligands for 3. The CPMAS (13)C NMR spectra picture the symmetry-independent (unique) C atoms and the bdc/ip-to-btre ligand ratio in agreement with the crystal structures. The zinc and cadmium coordination polymers show a strong bluish fluorescence upon excitation with UV light (the free btre ligand is non-luminescent).

The 3D metal-organic framework (MOF) (3)(infinity){[Ni(3)(mu(3)-btc)(2)(mu(4)-btre)(2)(mu-H(2)O)(2)]. approximately 22H(2)O} is found to be a reversibly dehydratable-hydratable water-stable MOF material with a large loading spread of 210 g/kg as a candidate for solid adsorbents in heat transformation cycles for refrigeration, heat pumping, and heat storage.

Hydrothermal reactions of 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane (btre) with copper(II), zinc(II), and cadmium(II) salts have yielded the dinuclear complexes [Zn2Cl4(mu2-btre)2] (1) and [Zn2Br4(mu2-btre)2] (2), the one-dimensional coordination polymer infinity1[Zn(NCS)2(2-btre)] (3), the two-dimensional networks infinity2[Cu2(mu2-Cl)2(mu4-btre)] (4), infinity2[Cu2(mu2-Br)2(mu4-btre)] (5), and infinity2{[Cd6(mu3-OH)2(mu3-SO4)4(mu4-btre)3(H2O)6](SO4).6H2O} (6), and the three-dimensional frameworks infinity3{[Cu(mu4-btre)]ClO4.0.25H2O} (7), 3{[Zn(mu4-btre)(mu2-btre)](ClO4)2} (8), infinity3{[Cd(mu4-btre)(mu2-btre)](ClO4)2} (9), and infinity3[Cu2(mu2-CN)2(mu4-btre)] (10, 2-fold 3D interpenetrated framework). The copper-containing products 4, 5, 7, and 10 contain the metal in the +1 oxidation state, from a simultaneous redox and self-assembly reaction of the Cu(II) starting materials. The cyanide-containing framework 10 has captured the CN- ions from the oxidative btre decomposition. The perchlorate frameworks 7, 8, or 9 react in an aqueous NH4+PF6- solution with formation of the related PF6--containing frameworks. The differences in the metal-btre bridging mode (mu2-kappaN1:N1', mu2-kappaN1:N2 or mu4-kappaN1:N2:N1':N2') and the btre ligand symmetry can be correlated with different signal patterns in the 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR spectra. Compounds 2, 4, 5 and 7 to 10 exhibit fluorescence at 403-481 nm upon excitation at 270-373 nm which is not seen in the free btre ligand.

Hydrothermal reaction of Cu(NO3)(2).3H2O, Cd(OH)2 or Zn(OH)2 with benzene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid (H3btb, hemimellitic acid) produced the 2D coordination polymer (MOF) (infinity)(2)[Cu2(mu5-btb)(mu-OH)(mu-H2O)] (1) and the 2D hydrogen-bonded complexes [Cd(H2btb)2(H2O)4].2H2O (2) and [Zn(H2O)6](H2btb)(2).4H2O (3) which are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction and thermoanalysis. Magnetic susceptibility measurements between 1.9-300 K for 1 revealed three magnetic active exchange pathways that link the copper(II) ions through a long mu-aqua bridge, an anti-syn carboxylate bridge [j2 = 0.161(1) cm(-1)], and through a mixed mu-hydroxo + syn-syn carboxylate bridge [J = 83(1) cm(-1)]. At temperatures higher than 30 K the system behaves as isolated Cu2 units with strong ferromagnetic Cu-Cu coupling through the mu-hydroxo and syn-syn carboxylate bridge. The strong ferromagnetic coupling is explained with Hoffmann's approach by means of the concept of counter-complementarity introduced by Nishida et al.[Chem. Lett., 1983, 1815-1818].

The title compound, 4C(9)H(6)O(6)·C(6)H(8)N(6)·2H(2)O, crystallizes in a layer structure where each sheet is composed of anellated hydrogen-bonded rings of six distinct sizes: R(2) (2)(16), R(3) (3)(18), R(4) (4)(12), R(4) (4)(18), R(4) (4)(22) and R(4) (4)(25). The two largest rings, viz. R(4) (4)(22) and R(4) (4)(25), are associated with O-H⋯N bonds from the carboxyl groups to the triazole rings. The typical head-to-tail carbox-yl-carboxyl R(2) (2)(8) motif is not observed.

A tripodal tris(3-pyridylurea) receptor (L) assembles with metal sulfate salts MSO(4) (M=Mn, Zn) to afford supramolecular cages [SO(4) subset L(2)] that encapsulate the SO(4)(2-) ion via multiple hydrogen bonds in a three-dimensional structure held by second-sphere coordination; (1)H NMR and negative-ion mode ESI-MS spectra reveal significantly strong sulfate binding in solution.

Stable chromium, molybdenum and tungsten nanoparticles are obtained reproducibly by thermal or photolytic decomposition under argon from mononuclear metal carbonyl precursors M(CO)(6) (M=Cr, Mo, W) suspended in the ionic liquids BMim(+)BF(4)(-), BMim(+)OTf(-) and BtMA(+)Tf(2)N(-) (BMim(+)=n-butyl-methyl-imidazolium, BtMA(+)=n-butyl-trimethyl-ammonium, Tf(2)N=N(O(2)SCF(3))(2), OTf=O(3)SCF(3)) with a very small and uniform size of 1 to 1.5 nm in BMim(+)BF(4)(-) which increases with the molecular volume of the ionic liquid anion to approximately 100 nm in BtMA(+)Tf(2)N(-) [characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering and transmission electron diffraction (TED) analysis].

The hydrothermal reaction of M(NO3)2.6H2O (M = Ni and Zn) with benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H3btc) and 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane (btre) produced the mixed-ligand coordination polymers (MOFs) 3 infinity{[Ni3(mu3-btc)2(mu(4)-btre)2(mu-H2O)2]. approximately 22H2O} (1) and 3 infinity{[Zn3(mu4-btc)2(mu4-btre)(H2O)2].2H2O} (3). The compounds, characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray powder diffraction and thermoanalysis feature trinuclear secondary building units (SBU) within the three-dimensional frameworks. The trinuclear nickel unit in 1 exhibits an intra-trimer together with some weak inter-trimer antiferromagnetic coupling with J = -13.88(8) cm(-1) from the magnetic susceptibility measurement between 1.9-300 K. The zinc coordination polymer 3 shows a strong fluorescence at 423 nm upon excitation at 323 nm (not seen in the free btre ligand). Compound 3 is thermally robust until 200 degrees C (ambient pressure) where loss of the water molecules starts. Careful control of the dehydration procedure (freeze-drying) for 1 and (heating to 280 degrees C) for allowed for a solid-state reaction with single-crystal-to-single-crystal structural transformations in obtaining the largely dehydrated products 3 infinity{[Ni3(mu2-btc)2(mu4-btre)2(mu-H2O)2(H2O)2].4H2O} (2) and 3 infinity{[Zn3(mu6-btc)2(mu4-btre)2]. approximately 0.67H2O} (4), respectively. In the transformation from 1 to 2 the unit cell volume is reduced to about 60%. The transition from 3 to 4 involves breakage and formation of new Zn-O bonds.

Stable silver nanoparticles are obtained reproducibly by hydrogen reduction of different inorganic precursors from AgIX salts (X = BF4, PF6, OTf) dissolved in the ionic liquids BMim+BF4-, BMim+PF6-, BMim+OTf-, or BtMA+NTf2- [BMim+ = n-butylmethylimidazolium, BtMA+ = n-butyltrimethylammonium, NTf2 = N(O2SCF3)2, and OTf = O3SCF3] in the presence of n-butylimidazole (Bim) as the scavenger for the HX acid byproduct and with a narrow size distribution in the diameter range of 2.8-26.1 nm, which increases linearly with the molecular volume of the ionic liquid anion (transmission electron microscopy characterization).

The thioethers (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL3) and (4-tert-butyl-2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)phenyl)(tert-butyl)sulfane (tBuL4) react readily with [Pd(NCMe)2Cl2] to give the dinuclear palladium thiophenolate complexes [(L3)Pd2(Cl)2]+ and [(L4)Pd2(micro-Cl)]2+ (HL3=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol, HL4=2,6-bis((2-(diphenylphosphino)ethylamino)methyl)-4-tert-butylbenzenethiol). The chlorides in could be replaced by neutral (MeCN) and anionic ligands (NCS-, N3-, I-, CN-) to give the dinuclear PdII complexes [(L3)Pd2(NCMe)2]3+, [(L3)Pd2(SCN)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(N3)2]+, [(L3)Pd2(I)2]+, and [(L3)Pd2(CN)2]+. The acetonitrile ligands in are readily hydrated to give the corresponding amidato complex [(L3)Pd2(NHCOMe)]2+. All complexes were isolated as perchlorate salts and studied by infrared, 1H, and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In addition, complexes [ClO4].EtOH, [ClO4]2, [ClO4], [ClO4].EtOH, and [ClO4]2.MeCN.MeOH have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The dipalladium complex was found to catalyse the vinyl-addition polymerization of norbornene in the presence of MAO (methylalumoxane) and B(C6F5)3/AlEt3.

Compounds [RuII(bipy)(terpy)L](PF6)2 with bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, terpy = 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine, L = H2O, imidazole (imi), 4-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, benzimidazole, 4,5-diphenylimidazole, indazole, pyrazole, 3-methylpyrazole have been synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, ESI-MS and UV/Vis (in CH3CN and H2O). For L = H2O, imidazole, 4,5-diphenylimidazole and indazole the X-ray structures of the complexes have been determined with the crystal packing featuring only few intermolecular C-H...pi or pi-pi interactions due to the separating action of the PF6-anions. Complexes with L = imidazole and 4-methylimidazole exhibit a fluorescence emission with a maximum at 662 and 667 nm, respectively (lambdaexc= 475 nm, solvent CH3CN or H2O). The substitution of the aqua ligand in [Ru(bipy)(terpy)(H2O)]2+ in aqueous solution by imidazole to give [Ru(bipy)(terpy)(imi)]2+ is fastest at a pH of 8.5 (as followed by the increase in emission intensity). Coupling of the [Ru(bipy)(terpy)]2+ fragment to cytochrome c(Yeast iso-1) starting from the Ru-aqua complex was successful at 35 degrees C and pH 7.0 after 5 d under argon in the dark. The [Ru(bipy)(terpy)(cyt c)]-product was characterized by UV/Vis, emission and mass spectrometry. The location where the [Ru(bipy)(terpy)] complex was coupled to the protein was identified as His44 (corresponding to His39 in other numbering schemes) using digestion of the Ru-coupled protein by trypsin and analysis of the tryptic peptides by HPLC-high resolution MS.

Three 5,5'-substituted 2,2'-bipyridyl ligands around a metal atom form two clefts which can encapsulate sulfate, perchlorate, or nitrate anions.

Neutron diffraction elucidates the structures of two-dimensional (2D) water layers (278 K) or 2D ice layers confined in an organic slit-shaped nanospace. The two-dimensional ice phases reported here consist of individual eight-membered rings or folded-chain segments (263 K) and condensed twelve-membered irregular rings (20 K). This is quite different from bulk or other 2D ice structures; the latter usually form hexagonal honeycomb lattices. Both low-temperature structures typically feature water molecules which are surrounded by two or three other water molecules. Neutron diffraction and thermochemical studies indicate a liquid-solid-phase transition around 277 K for two-dimensional D2O layers. A further solid-solid-phase transition occurs between 263 and 20 K.

Nuclear inelastic scattering (NIS) measurements were performed on a guanidium nitroprusside ((CN(3)H(6))(2)[Fe(CN)(5)NO], GNP) monocrystal at 77 K after the sample was illuminated with blue light (450 nm) at 50 K to populate the two metastable states, MS(1) and MS(2), of the nitroprusside anion. A second measurement was performed at 77 K after warming up the illuminated crystal to 250 K where the metastable states decay to the groundstate. The measured spectra were compared with simulated NIS spectra that were calculated by using density functional methods. Comparison of measured and simulated spectra provides strong evidence for the isonitrosyl structure of the metastable MS(1) state proposed by Carducci et al. (Carducci, M. D.; Pressprich, M. R.; Coppens, P. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 2669-2678).

The title compound, [Cu(H(2)PO(4))(2)(C(10)H(8)N(2))(2)(H(2)O)(2)], is a mononuclear complex in which the Cu atom is square-planar coordinated by two dihydrogenphosphate anions and two monodentate 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bipy) groups, and by two more distant aqua ligands to complete a distorted octahedral coordination. Metal-metal bridging by 4,4'-bipy is blocked by intermolecular hydrogen bonding from the dihydrogenphosphate to the second N atom of 4,4'-bipy. The crystal packing is controlled both by additional hydrogen bonding between the aqua and phosphate ligands and by pi-stacking. These hydrogen-bonding interactions create two-dimensional networks which are connected by the bipyridine ligands.

The title compound, [Mn2(C11H13NO3)2(C7H5O2)2], is a centrosymmetric dinuclear manganese(III) complex in which the two Mn atoms are bridged by two alkoxo groups and supported by two carboxylate groups, with an Mn.Mn distance of 2.8720 (15) A.

Dinuclear complexes with M-CN-ZnPc and M-CN-FePc-CN arrays and trinuclear complexes with M(mu-CN)Fe(mu-CN)M' arrays containing central metal phthalocyaninato (Pc) and external Cp(dppe)Fe or Cp(PPh3)2Ru building blocks (M) and having all possible orientations of the bridging cyanide ligands were subjected to electrochemical and preparative redox reactions. The species with unpaired electrons show characteristic MMCT bands in the near-IR spectra, the energies of which depend in a typical fashion on the nature of the building blocks and the orientation of the cyanide bridges and can be correlated with the redox potentials. Cyclic voltammetry has revealed electronic communication between the external organometallic units. An analysis of the MMCT spectra allows the assignment of the odd-electron complexes as class II mixed-valence species. The magnetic moments of the complexes with central Fe(III)Pc units are characteristically higher than the spin-only value for one unpaired electron. A Mössbauer investigation has shown that the M-CN-Fe(III)Pc-NC-M complexes undergo a low-spin-to-high-spin crossover of the Fe(III) component above room temperature.

The pi-(arene)bis(stannylene) complex bis(bis(2-tert-butyl-4,5,6-trimethylphenyl)SnFe(eta6-toluene) (Sn-Fe-Sn, 15) is accessible in high yields by a metal-atom-mediated synthesis between iron atoms, toluene, and the stannylene [bis(2-tert-butyl-4,5,6-trimethylphenyl)Sn](3). Complex 15 has a half-sandwich structure with short Fe -Sn bonds (2.432(1) A) and a trigonal-planar coordination at both the Fe and Sn atoms. The distance between the two Sn centers is 3.56 A. Complex 15 is stable under ambient conditions and displays a pi-arene lability, so far rarely observed for (arene)iron complexes; this leads to an irreversible substitution of the arene and formation of fivefold-coordinated zerovalent iron complexes. The pi-arene lability of the title compound is a result of the Fe-Sn bonding situation, which can be interpreted, on the basis of an extended Huckel molecular orbital calculation, as being solely a donation of the 5sigma lone-pair of Sn into empty or half-filled acceptor d orbitals on Fe. As the calculations reveal, there is little backbonding from the iron to the tin, and the strong sigma donation leads to an increased occupation of the pi-antibonding orbitals of the eta6-arene, which are mainly responsible for the experimentally observed arene lability. Fe and Sn Mossbauer spectra support the polar character of Sn(sigma+)-->Fe(sigma-) with strong sigma donation from tin to iron, but significantly low iron-to-tin pi backdonation.

The antitumor activity of the four metallocene compounds decaphenylstannocene [eta 5-(C6H5)5C5]2Sn(II), decabenzylstannocene [eta 5-(C6H5CH2)5C5]2Sn(II), decaphenylgermanocene [eta 5-(C6H5)5C5]2Ge(II), and decabenzylgermanocene [eta 5-(C6H5CH2)5C5]2Ge(II), containing the main group IV elements tin or germanium as the central metal atom and two pentasubstituted cyclopentadienyl ring ligands in sandwich arrangement, were tested against Ehrlich ascites tumor in female CF1 mice. The complexes caused cure rates of 40% to 90% of the animals treated over rather broad dose ranges. With both germanocene complexes, no strong dose-activity relationship was manifest. The toxicity of all four metallocenes was low, the LD10 values of both stannocenes being 460 and 500 mg/kg, and those of both germanocenes higher than 700 mg/kg. Regarding the isolated pentasubstituted cyclopentadiene ligands (C6H5)5C5H and (C6H5CH2)5C5H, these also exhibited antitumor activity which was less pronounced than that of the metal-containing sandwich complexes. Decasubstituted stannocene and germanocene compounds represent a new type of non-platinum group metal antitumor agents structurally differing from known inorganic and organometallic cytostatics.