Synthesis, Structures, and Solution Studies of a New Class of [Mo2O2S2]-Based Thiosemicarbazone Coordination Complexes.

This paper deals with the synthesis, structural studies, and behavior in solution of unprecedented coordination complexes built by the association of a panel of 14 representative thiosemicarbazone ligands with the cluster [Mo2O2S2]2+. These complexes have been thoroughly characterized both in the solid state and in solution by XRD and by NMR, respectively. In particular, HMBC 1H{15N} and 1H DOSY NMR experiments bring important elements for understanding the complexes' behavior in solution. These studies demonstrate that playing on the nature and the position of various substituents on the ligands strongly influences the coordination modes of the ligands as well as the numbers of isomers in solution, mainly 2 products for the majority of complexes and up to 5 for some of them.

Near Isotropic D4d Spin Qubits as Nodes of a Gd(III)-Based Metal-Organic Framework.

Embedding coherent spin motifs in reproducible molecular building blocks is a promising pathway for the realization of quantum technologies. Three-dimensional (3D) MOFs are a versatile platform for the rational design of extended structures employing coordination chemistry. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of a gadolinium(III)-based MOF, [Gd(bipyNO)4](TfO)3·xMeOH (bipyNO = bipyridine,N,N'-dioxide; TfO = triflate; and MeOH = methanol) (quMOF-1), which presents a unique coordination geometry that leads to a tiny magnetic anisotropy (in terms of D, an equivalent zero-field splitting would be achieved by D = 0.006 cm-1) even compared with regular Gd(III) complexes. Pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance experiments on its magnetically diluted samples confirm the preservation of quantum coherence of single Gd(III) qubit units in this 3D extended molecular architecture (T2 = 612 ns and T1 = 66 µs at 3.5 K), which allows for the detection of Rabi oscillations at 40 K.

Cobalt Metal-Organic Framework Based on Layered Double Nanosheets for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation in Neutral Media.

A new cobalt metal-organic framework (2D-Co-MOF) based on well-defined layered double cores that are strongly connected by intermolecular bonds has been developed. Its 3D structure is held together by π-π stacking interactions between the labile pyridine ligands of the nanosheets. In aqueous solution, the axial pyridine ligands are exchanged by water molecules, producing a delamination of the material, where the individual double nanosheets preserve their structure. The original 3D layered structure can be restored by a solvothermal process with pyridine, so that the material shows a "memory effect" during the delamination-pillarization process. Electrochemical activation of a 2D-Co-MOF@Nafion-modified graphite electrode in aqueous solution improves the ionic migration and electron transfer across the film and promotes the formation of the electrocatalytically active cobalt species for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The so-activated 2D-Co-MOF@Nafion composite exhibits an outstanding electrocatalytic performance for the OER at neutral pH, with a TOF value (0.034 s-1 at an overpotential of 400 mV) and robustness superior to those reported for similar electrocatalysts under similar conditions. The particular topology of the delaminated nanosheets, with quite distant cobalt centers, precludes the direct coupling between the electrocatalytically active centers of the same sheet. On the other hand, the increase in ionic migration across the film during the electrochemical activation stage rules out the intersheet coupling between active cobalt centers, as this scenario would impair electrolyte permeation. Altogether, the most plausible mechanism for the O-O bond formation is the water nucleophilic attack to single Co(IV)-oxo or Co(III)-oxyl centers. Its high electrochemical efficiency suggests that the presence of nitrogen-containing aromatic equatorial ligands facilitates the water nucleophilic attack, as in the case of the highly efficient cobalt porphyrins.

Sublimable Single Ion Magnets Based on Lanthanoid Quinolinate Complexes: The Role of Intermolecular Interactions on Their Thermal Stability.

We report the design, preparation, and characterization of two families of thermally robust coordination complexes based on lanthanoid quinolinate compounds: [Ln(5,7-Br2q)4]- and [Ln(5,7-ClIq)4]-, where q = 8-hydroquinolinate anion and Ln = DyIII, TbIII, ErIII, and HoIII. The sodium salt of [Dy(5,7-Br2q)4]- decomposes upon sublimation, whereas the sodium salt of [Dy(5,7-ClIq)4]-, which displays subtly different crystalline interactions, is sublimable under gentle conditions. The resulting film presents low roughness with high coverage, and the molecular integrity of the coordination complex is verified through AFM, MALDI-TOF, FT-IR, and microanalysis. Crucially, the single-molecule magnet behavior exhibited by [Dy(5,7-ClIq)4]- in bulk remains detectable by ac magnetometry in the sublimated film.

Gas confinement in compartmentalized coordination polymers for highly selective sorption.

Discrimination between different gases is an essential aspect for industrial and environmental applications involving sensing and separation. Several classes of porous materials have been used in this context, including zeolites and more recently MOFs. However, to reach high selectivities for the separation of gas mixtures is a challenging task that often requires the understanding of the specific interactions established between the porous framework and the gases. Here we propose an approach to obtain an enhanced selectivity based on the use of compartmentalized coordination polymers, named CCP-1 and CCP-2, which are crystalline materials comprising isolated discrete cavities. These compartmentalized materials are excellent candidates for the selective separation of CO2 from methane and nitrogen. A complete understanding of the sorption process is accomplished with the use of complementary experimental techniques including X-ray diffraction, adsorption studies, inelastic- and quasi-elastic neutron scattering, magnetic measurements and molecular dynamics calculations.

Layered gadolinium hydroxides for low-temperature magnetic cooling.

Layered gadolinium hydroxides have revealed to be excellent candidates for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration. These materials behave as pure 2D magnetic systems with a Heisenberg-Ising critical crossover, induced by dipolar interactions. This 2D character and the possibility offered by these materials to be delaminated open the possibility of rapid heat dissipation upon substrate deposition.

Hybrid magnetic superconductors formed by TaS2 layers and spin crossover complexes.

The restacking of charged TaS2 nanosheets with molecular counterparts has so far allowed for the combination of superconductivity with a manifold of other molecule-intrinsic properties. Yet, a hybrid compound that blends superconductivity with spin crossover switching has still not been reported. Here we continue to exploit the solid-state/molecule-based hybrid approach for the synthesis of a layered TaS2-based material that hosts Fe(2+) complexes with a spin switching behavior. The chemical design and synthetic aspects of the exfoliation/restacking approach are discussed, highlighting how the material can be conveniently obtained in the form of highly oriented easy-to-handle flakes. Finally, proof of the presence of both phenomena is provided by the use of a variety of physical characterization techniques. The likely sensitivity of the intercalated Fe(2+) complexes to external stimuli such as light opens the door for the study of synergistic effects between the superconductivity and the spin crossover switching at low temperatures.

Tuning the magneto-structural properties of non-porous coordination polymers by HCl chemisorption.

Responsive materials for which physical or chemical properties can be tuned by applying an external stimulus are attracting considerable interest in view of their potential applications as chemical switches or molecular sensors. A potential source of such materials is metal-organic frameworks. These porous coordination polymers permit the physisorption of guest molecules that can provoke subtle changes in their porous structure, thus affecting their physical properties. Here we show that the chemisorption of gaseous HCl molecules by a non-porous one-dimensional coordination polymer instigates drastic modifications in the magnetic properties of the material. These changes result from profound structural changes, involving cleavage and formation of covalent bonds, but with no disruption of crystallinity.

Reversible gas uptake by a nonporous crystalline solid involving multiple changes in covalent bonding.

Hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) is absorbed (and reversibly released) by a nonporous crystalline solid, [CuCl2(3-Clpy)2] (3-Clpy = 3-chloropyridine), under ambient conditions leading to conversion from the blue coordination compound to the yellow salt (3-ClpyH)2[CuCl4]. These reactions require substantial motions within the crystalline solid including a change in the copper coordination environment from square planar to tetrahedral. This process also involves cleavage of the covalent bond of the gaseous molecules (H-Cl) and of coordination bonds of the molecular solid compound (Cu-N) and formation of N-H and Cu-Cl bonds. These reactions are not a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation; thus, the crystal structure determinations have been performed using X-ray powder diffraction. Importantly, we demonstrate that these reactions proceed in the absence of solvent or water vapor, ruling out the possibility of a water-assisted (microscopic recrystallization) mechanism, which is remarkable given all the structural changes needed for the process to take place. Gas-phase FTIR spectroscopy has permitted us to establish that this process is actually a solid-gas equilibrium, and time-resolved X-ray powder diffraction (both in situ and ex situ) has been used for the study of possible intermediates as well as the kinetics of the reaction.

Ligand flexibility and framework rearrangement in a new family of porous metal-organic frameworks.

Ligand flexibility permits framework rearrangement upon evacuation and gas uptake in a new family of porous MOFs.

Symmetrical reconversion: measuring cross-correlation rates with enhanced accuracy.

A new strategy has been developed to measure cross-correlation rates with much enhanced accuracy. The method relies on the use of four complementary experiments. Errors due to pulse miscalibration and to uncontrolled attenuation factors associated with relaxation are cancelled out. Problems due to violations of the secular approximation are greatly alleviated. The method has been applied to the measurement of N/NH (CSA/DD) cross-correlated relaxation rates in human ubiquitin.