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Abstract A steady increase in shooting practices is observed worldwide. Potential lead exposure at shooting ranges poses a risk to their employees and users, which is not widely reported outside of the USA, especially in Poland. Exposure to lead results from the use of bullets containing lead and the main route of exposure to this metal at shooting ranges is inhalation, i.e., during shooting or cleaning. The aim of this study was to assess lead exposure of employees and users in selected indoor shooting ranges in central Poland. Airborne lead concentrations at all locations in the shooting ranges were above Polish occupational exposure limit (OEL, 0.05 mg m−3). Elevated blood and urine lead levels, and decreased 4-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity (ALA-D) were found in subjects participating in shooting even for only a few (

The discovery of conductive and magnetic two-dimensional (2D) materials is critical for the development of next generation spintronics devices. Coordination chemistry in particular represents a highly versatile, though underutilized, route toward the synthesis of such materials with designer lattices. Here, we report the synthesis of a conductive, layered 2D metal-organic kagome lattice, Mn3(C6S6), using mild solution-phase chemistry. Strong geometric spin frustration in this system mediates spin freezing at low temperatures, which results in glassy magnetic dynamics consistent with a rare geometrically frustrated (topological) spin glass. Notably, we show that this geometric frustration engenders a large, tunable exchange bias of 1625 Oe in Mn3(C6S6), providing the first example of exchange bias in a coordination solid or a topological spin glass. Exchange bias is a critical component in a number of spintronics applications, but it is difficult to rationally tune, as it typically arises due to structural disorder. This work outlines a new strategy for engineering exchange bias systems using single-phase, crystalline lattices. More generally, these results demonstrate the potential utility of geometric frustration in the design of new nanoscale spintronic materials.

We report the synthesis and characterization of the trinuclear 4d-4f compounds [Co(C5Me5)2][(C5Me5)2Ln(μ-S)2Mo(μ-S)2Ln(C5Me5)2], 1-Ln (Ln = Y, Gd, Tb, Dy), containing the highly polarizable MoS43- bridging unit. UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectra and DFT calculations of 1-Ln reveal a low-energy metal-to-metal charge transfer transition assigned to charge transfer from the singly occupied 4dz2 orbital of MoV to the empty 5d orbitals of the lanthanides (4d in the case of 1-Y), mediated by sulfur-based 3p orbitals. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra collected for 1-Y in a tetrahydrofuran solution show large 89Y hyperfine coupling constants of A⊥ = 23 MHz and A|| = 26 MHz, indicating the presence of significant yttrium-localized unpaired electron density. Magnetic susceptibility data support similar electron delocalization and ferromagnetic Ln-Mo exchange for 1-Gd, 1-Tb, and 1-Dy. This ferromagnetic exchange gives rise to an S = 15/2 ground state for 1-Gd and one of the largest magnetic exchange constants involving GdIII observed to date, with JGd-Mo = +16.1(2) cm-1. Additional characterization of 1-Tb and 1-Dy by ac magnetic susceptibility measurements reveals that both compounds exhibit slow magnetic relaxation. Although a Raman magnetic relaxation process is dominant for both 1-Tb and 1-Dy, an extracted thermal relaxation barrier of Ueff = 68 cm-1 for 1-Dy is the largest yet reported for a complex containing a paramagnetic 4d metal center. Together, these results provide a potentially generalizable route to enhanced nd-4f magnetic exchange, revealing opportunities for the design of new nd-4f single-molecule magnets and bulk magnetic materials.

Materials that combine magnetic order with other desirable physical attributes could find transformative applications in spintronics, quantum sensing, low-density magnets and gas separations. Among potential multifunctional magnetic materials, metal-organic frameworks, in particular, bear structures that offer intrinsic porosity, vast chemical and structural programmability, and the tunability of electronic properties. Nevertheless, magnetic order within metal-organic frameworks has generally been limited to low temperatures, owing largely to challenges in creating a strong magnetic exchange. Here we employ the phenomenon of itinerant ferromagnetism to realize magnetic ordering at TC = 225 K in a mixed-valence chromium(II/III) triazolate compound, which represents the highest ferromagnetic ordering temperature yet observed in a metal-organic framework. The itinerant ferromagnetism proceeds through a double-exchange mechanism, which results in a barrierless charge transport below the Curie temperature and a large negative magnetoresistance of 23% at 5 K. These observations suggest applications for double-exchange-based coordination solids in the emergent fields of magnetoelectrics and spintronics.

We report the synthesis and characterization of the trinuclear 4d-4f compounds [Co(C5Me5)2][(C5Me5)2Ln(μ-S)2Mo(μ-S)2Ln(C5Me5)2], 1-Ln (Ln = Y, Gd, Tb, Dy), containing the highly polarizable MoS43- bridging unit. UV-Vis-NIR diffuse reflectance spectra and DFT calculations of 1-Ln reveal a low-energy metal-to-metal charge transfer transition assigned to charge transfer from the singly occupied 4dz2 orbital of MoV to the empty 5d orbitals of the lanthanides (4d in the case of 1-Y), mediated by sulfur-based 3p orbitals. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra collected for 1-Y in a tetrahydrofuran solution show large 89Y hyperfine coupling constants of A⊥ = 23 MHz and A|| = 26 MHz, indicating the presence of significant yttrium-localized unpaired electron density. Magnetic susceptibility data support similar electron delocalization and ferromagnetic Ln-Mo exchange for 1-Gd, 1-Tb, and 1-Dy. This ferromagnetic exchange gives rise to an S = 15/2 ground state for 1-Gd and one of the largest magnetic exchange constants involving GdIII observed to date, with JGd-Mo = +16.1(2) cm-1. Additional characterization of 1-Tb and 1-Dy by ac magnetic susceptibility measurements reveals that both compounds exhibit slow magnetic relaxation. Although a Raman magnetic relaxation process is dominant for both 1-Tb and 1-Dy, an extracted thermal relaxation barrier of Ueff = 68 cm-1 for 1-Dy is the largest yet reported for a complex containing a paramagnetic 4d metal center. Together, these results provide a potentially generalizable route to enhanced nd-4f magnetic exchange, revealing opportunities for the design of new nd-4f single-molecule magnets and bulk magnetic materials.

Systematic analysis of related compounds is crucial to the design of single-molecule magnets with improved properties, yet such studies on multinuclear lanthanide complexes with strong magnetic coupling remain rare. Herein, we present the synthesis and magnetic characterization of the series of radical-bridged dilanthanide complex salts [(Cp*2Ln)2(μ-5,5'-R2bpym)](BPh4) (Ln = Gd, Dy; R = NMe2 (1), OEt (2), Me (3), F (4); bpym = 2,2'-bipyrimidine). Modification of the substituent on the bridging 5,5'-R2bpym radical anion allows the magnetic exchange coupling constant, JGd-rad, for the gadolinium compounds in this series to be tuned over a range from -2.7 cm-1 (1) to -11.1 cm-1 (4), with electron-withdrawing or -donating substituents increasing or decreasing the strength of exchange coupling, respectively. Modulation of the exchange coupling interaction has a significant impact on the magnetic relaxation dynamics of the single-molecule magnets 1-Dy through 4-Dy, where stronger JGd-rad for the corresponding Gd3+ compounds is associated with larger thermal barriers to magnetic relaxation (Ueff), open magnetic hysteresis at higher temperatures, and slower magnetic relaxation rates for through-barrier processes. Further, we derive an empirical linear correlation between the experimental Ueff values for 1-Dy through 4-Dy and the magnitude of JGd-rad for the corresponding gadolinium derivatives that provides insight into the electronic structure of these complexes. This simple model applies to other organic radical-bridged dysprosium complexes in the literature, and it establishes clear design criteria for increasing magnetic operating temperatures in radical-bridged molecules.

The design of stable adsorbents capable of selectively capturing dioxygen with a high reversible capacity is a crucial goal in functional materials development. Drawing inspiration from biological O2 carriers, we demonstrate that coupling metal-based electron transfer with secondary coordination sphere effects in the metal-organic framework Co2(OH)2(bbta) (H2bbta = 1H,5H-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bistriazole) leads to strong and reversible adsorption of O2. In particular, moderate-strength hydrogen bonding stabilizes a cobalt(III)-superoxo species formed upon O2 adsorption. Notably, O2-binding in this material weakens as a function of loading, as a result of negative cooperativity arising from electronic effects within the extended framework lattice. This unprecedented behavior extends the tunable properties that can be used to design metal-organic frameworks for adsorption-based applications.

Conductive metal-organic frameworks are an emerging class of three-dimensional architectures with degrees of modularity, synthetic flexibility and structural predictability that are unprecedented in other porous materials. However, engendering long-range charge delocalization and establishing synthetic strategies that are broadly applicable to the diverse range of structures encountered for this class of materials remain challenging. Here, we report the synthesis of K x Fe2(BDP)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 2; BDP2- = 1,4-benzenedipyrazolate), which exhibits full charge delocalization within the parent framework and charge mobilities comparable to technologically relevant polymers and ceramics. Through a battery of spectroscopic methods, computational techniques and single-microcrystal field-effect transistor measurements, we demonstrate that fractional reduction of Fe2(BDP)3 results in a metal-organic framework that displays a nearly 10,000-fold enhancement in conductivity along a single crystallographic axis. The attainment of such properties in a K x Fe2(BDP)3 field-effect transistor represents the realization of a general synthetic strategy for the creation of new porous conductor-based devices.

Increasing the operating temperatures of single-molecule magnets-molecules that can retain magnetic polarization in the absence of an applied field-has potential implications toward information storage and computing, and may also inform the development of new bulk magnets. Progress toward these goals relies upon the development of synthetic chemistry enabling enhancement of the thermal barrier to reversal of the magnetic moment, while suppressing alternative relaxation processes. Herein, we show that pairing the axial magnetic anisotropy enforced by tetramethylcyclopentadienyl (CpMe4H) capping ligands with strong magnetic exchange coupling provided by an N23- radical bridging ligand results in a series of dilanthanide complexes exhibiting exceptionally large magnetic hysteresis loops that persist to high temperatures. Significantly, reducing the coordination number of the metal centers appears to increase axial magnetic anisotropy, giving rise to larger magnetic relaxation barriers and 100-s magnetic blocking temperatures of up to 20 K, as observed for the complex [K(crypt-222)][(CpMe4H2Tb)2(μ-[Formula: see text])].

Incorporation of Mn into an established water oxidation catalyst based on a Co(III)4O4 cubane was achieved by a simple and efficient assembly of permanganate, cobalt(II) acetate, and pyridine to form the cubane oxo cluster MnCo3O4(OAc)5py3 (OAc = acetate, py = pyridine) (1-OAc) in good yield. This allows characterization of electronic and chemical properties for a manganese center in a cobalt oxide environment, and provides a molecular model for Mn-doped cobalt oxides. The electronic properties of the cubane are readily tuned by exchange of the OAc- ligand for Cl- (1-Cl), NO3- (1-NO3), and pyridine ([1-py]+). EPR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry, and DFT calculations thoroughly characterized the valence assignment of the cubane as [MnIVCoIII3]. These cubanes are redox-active, and calculations reveal that the Co ions behave as the reservoir for electrons, but their redox potentials are tuned by the choice of ligand at Mn. This MnCo3O4 cubane system represents a new class of easily prepared, versatile, and redox-active oxido clusters that should contribute to an understanding of mixed-metal, Mn-containing oxides.

The air-free reaction of CoCl2 with 1,3,5-tri(1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl)benzene (H3BTTri) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and methanol leads to the formation of Co-BTTri (Co3[(Co4Cl)3(BTTri)8]2·DMF), a sodalite-type metal-organic framework. Desolvation of this material generates coordinatively unsaturated low-spin cobalt(II) centers that exhibit a strong preference for binding O2 over N2, with isosteric heats of adsorption (Qst) of -34(1) and -12(1) kJ/mol, respectively. The low-spin (S = 1/2) electronic configuration of the metal centers in the desolvated framework is supported by structural, magnetic susceptibility, and computational studies. A single-crystal X-ray structure determination reveals that O2 binds end-on to each framework cobalt center in a 1:1 ratio with a Co-O2 bond distance of 1.973(6) Å. Replacement of one of the triazolate linkers with a more electron-donating pyrazolate group leads to the isostructural framework Co-BDTriP (Co3[(Co4Cl)3(BDTriP)8]2·DMF; H3BDTriP = 5,5'-(5-(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,3-phenylene)bis(1H-1,2,3-triazole)), which demonstrates markedly higher yet still fully reversible O2 affinities (Qst = -47(1) kJ/mol at low loadings). Electronic structure calculations suggest that the O2 adducts in Co-BTTri are best described as cobalt(II)-dioxygen species with partial electron transfer, while the stronger binding sites in Co-BDTriP form cobalt(III)-superoxo moieties. The stability, selectivity, and high O2 adsorption capacity of these materials render them promising new adsorbents for air separation processes.

The size-dependent and shape-dependent characteristics that distinguish nanoscale materials from bulk solids arise from constraining the dimensionality of an inorganic structure.sup.1-3. As a consequence, many studies have focused on rationally shaping these materials to influence and enhance their optical, electronic, magnetic and catalytic properties.sup.4-6. Although a select number of stable clusters can typically be synthesized within the nanoscale regime for a specific composition, isolating clusters of a predetermined size and shape remains a challenge, especially for those derived from two-dimensional materials. Here we realize a multidentate coordination environment in a metal-organic framework to stabilize discrete inorganic clusters within a porous crystalline support. We show confined growth of atomically defined nickel(ii) bromide, nickel(ii) chloride, cobalt(ii) chloride and iron(ii) chloride sheets through the peripheral coordination of six chelating bipyridine linkers. Notably, confinement within the framework defines the structure and composition of these sheets and facilitates their precise characterization by crystallography. Each metal(ii) halide sheet represents a fragment excised from a single layer of the bulk solid structure, and structures obtained at different precursor loadings enable observation of successive stages of sheet assembly. Finally, the isolated sheets exhibit magnetic behaviours distinct from those of the bulk metal halides, including the isolation of ferromagnetically coupled large-spin ground states through the elimination of long-range, interlayer magnetic ordering. Overall, these results demonstrate that the pore environment of a metal-organic framework can be designed to afford precise control over the size, structure and spatial arrangement of inorganic clusters. The pore space in the metal-organic framework Zr.sub.6O.sub.4(OH).sub.4(bpydc).sub.6 can be used as a scaffold to grow precisely defined atomically thick sheets of metal halide materials, taking advantage of multiple binding sites to direct complexation of the metal ions; these metal halide nanosheets fill the size gap between discrete molecular magnets and bulk magnetic materials, with potentially unusual magnetic properties arising from this size regime., Author(s): Miguel I. Gonzalez [sup.1] , Ari B. Turkiewicz [sup.1] , Lucy E. Darago [sup.1] , Julia Oktawiec [sup.1] , Karen Bustillo [sup.2] , Fernande Grandjean [sup.3] , Gary J. [...]

A new option for stabilizing unusual Ln2+ ions has been identified in the reaction of Cp'3Ln, 1-Ln (Ln = La, Ce; Cp' = C5H4SiMe3), with potassium graphite (KC8) in benzene in the presence of 2.2.2-cryptand. This generates [K(2.2.2-cryptand)]2[(Cp'2Ln)2(μ-η6:η6-C6H6)], 2-Ln, complexes that contain La and Ce in the formal +2 oxidation state. These complexes expand the range of coordination environments known for these ions beyond the previously established examples, (Cp''3Ln)1- and (Cp'3Ln)1- (Cp'' = C5H3(SiMe3)2-1,3), and generalize the viability of using three anionic carbocyclic rings to stabilize highly reactive Ln2+ ions. In 2-Ln, a non-planar bridging (C6H6)2- ligand shared between two metals takes the place of a cyclopentadienyl ligand in (Cp'3Ln)1-. The intensely colored (ε = ∼8000 M-1 cm-1) 2-Ln complexes react as four electron reductants with two equiv. of naphthalene to produce two equiv. of the reduced naphthalenide complex, [K(2.2.2-cryptand)][Cp'2Ln(η4-C10H8)].

Metal-organic frameworks featuring pores lined with exposed metal cations have received attention for a wide range of adsorption-related applications. While many frameworks with coordinatively unsaturated M(II) centers have been reported, there are relatively few examples of porous materials with coordinatively unsaturated M(III) centers. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of Ti3O(OEt)(bdc)3(solv)2 (Ti-MIL-101; bdc(2-) = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate; solv = N,N-dimethylformamide, tetrahydrofuran), the first metal-organic framework containing exclusively Ti(III) centers. Through a combination of gas adsorption, X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility, and electronic and vibrational spectroscopy measurements, this high-surface-area framework is shown to contain five-coordinate Ti(III) centers upon desolvation, which irreversibly bind O2 to form titanium(IV) superoxo and peroxo species. Electronic absorption spectra suggest that the five-coordinate Ti(III) sites adopt a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry that effectively shields nuclear charge and inhibits strong adsorption of nonredox-active gases.

Specific gene and miRNA expression patterns are potential early biomarkers of harmful environmental carcinogen exposures. The aim of our research was to develop an assay panel by using several miRNAs for the rapid screening of potential carcinogens. The expression changes of miR-124-1, miR-212, miR-132, miR-134, and miR-155 were examined in the spleen, liver, and kidneys of CBA/Ca mice, following the 20 mg/bwkg intraperitoneal 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) treatment. After 24 h RNA was isolated, the miRNA expressions were analyzed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction and compared to a non-treated control. DMBA induced significant changes in the expression of miR-134, miR-132, and miR-124-1 in all examined organs in female mice. Thus, miR-134, miR-132, and miR-124-1 were found to be suitable biomarkers for the rapid screening of potential chemical carcinogens and presumably to monitor the protective effects of chemopreventive agents.

Objectives: Cadmium (Cd) is a persistent and widespread environmental pollutant, which may constitute a potential risk factor for hormone-dependent tumors such as endometrial cancer. The vascular endothelium is an important target of cadmium toxicity, which may interfere with the coagulation cascade and fibrinolytic system. The aim of this research was to investigate whether in female patients with uterine endometrial cancer or myoma in comparison to healthy women, the concentration of cadmium in blood affects the process of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Materials and Methods: The study group comprised 91 women: 35 healthy (A-control), 39 with uterine myoma (B) and 17 with endometrial cancer (C), in which blood cadmium concentrations (BCd), coagulation and selected fibrinolysis parameters in plasma were assayed. Results: In the women with myoma and especially in those with endometrial cancer disturbances in coagulation and fibrinolysis were detected when compared to the healthy women. In the group of women with endometrial cancer significant changes in prothrombin index, levels of fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer and t-PA were observed. Whereas, in the patients with myoma significant changes in prothrombin time, index of vWillebrand Factor and fibrin D-dimer level were noted. Mean BCd concentrations in subsequent groups were as follows: B - 0.91±0.81; C - 0.78±0.45 μg Cd/l and did not differ significantly in comparison with the control group (0.86±0.35 μg Cd/l). However, in each study group smokers had approximately twice as high BCd as non-smokers. Studies also showed significant associations between BCd and fibrinogen level and thrombin time among the women with myoma and endometrial cancer, as well as in healthy women. Moreover, thrombin time significantly correlated with fibrinogen level in the women studied. Conclusions: In the patients with myoma and especially in these with endometrial cancer disturbances in coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters leading to hypercoagulability were detected. Exposure to cadmium can be one of the factors inducing these changes.