Structure Transformation of Methylammonium Polyoxomolybdates via In-Solution Acidification and Solid-State Heating from Methylammonium Monomolybdate and Application as Negative Staining Reagents for Coronavirus Observation.

We prepared polyoxomolybdates with methylammonium countercations from methylammonium monomolybdate, (CH3NH3)2[MoO4], through two dehydrative condensation methods, acidifying in the aqueous solution and solid-state heating. Discrete (CH3NH3)10[Mo36O112(OH)2(H2O)14], polymeric ((CH3NH3)8[Mo36O112(H2O)14])n, and polymeric ((CH3NH3)4[γ-Mo8O26])n were selectively isolated via pH control of the aqueous (CH3NH3)2[MoO4] solution. The H2SO4-acidified solution of pH < 1 produced "sulfonated α-MoO3", polymeric ((CH3NH3)2[(MoO3)3(SO4)])n. The solid-state heating of (CH3NH3)2[MoO4] in air released methylamine and water to produce several methylammonium polyoxomolybdates in the sequence of discrete (CH3NH3)8[Mo7O24-MoO4], discrete (CH3NH3)6[Mo7O24], discrete (CH3NH3)8[Mo10O34], and polymeric ((CH3NH3)4[γ-Mo8O26])n, before their transformation into molybdenum oxides such as hexagonal-MoO3 and α-MoO3. Notably, some of their polyoxomolybdate structures were different from polyoxomolybdates produced from ammonium molybdates, such as (NH4)2[MoO4] or (NH4)6[Mo7O24], indicating that countercation affected the polyoxomolybdate structure. Moreover, among the tested polyoxomolybdates, (CH3NH3)6[Mo7O24] was the best negative staining reagent for the observation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus using transmission electron microscopy.

Redox Activity of IrIII Complexes with Multidentate Ligands Based on Dipyrido-Annulated N-Heterocyclic Carbenes: Access to High Valent and High Spin State with Carbon Donors.

Synthetic strategies to access high-valent iridium complexes usually require use of π donating ligands bearing electronegative atoms (e. g. amide or oxide) or σ donating electropositive atoms (e. g. boryl or hydride). Besides the η5 -(methyl)cyclopentadienyl derivatives, high-valent η1 carbon-ligated iridium complexes are challenging to synthesize. To meet this challenge, this work reports the oxidation behavior of an all-carbon-ligated anionic bis(CCC-pincer) IrIII complex. Being both σ and π donating, the diaryl dipyrido-annulated N-heterocyclic carbene (dpa-NHC) IrIII complex allowed a stepwise 4e- oxidation sequence. The first 2e- oxidation led to an oxidative coupling of two adjacent aryl groups, resulting in formation of a cationic chiral IrIII complex bearing a CCCC-tetradentate ligand. A further 2e- oxidation allowed isolation of a high-valent tricationic complex with a triplet ground state. These results close a synthetic gap for carbon-ligated iridium complexes and demonstrate the electronic tuning potential of organic π ligands for unusual electronic properties.

Fluoride-bridged dinuclear dysprosium complex showing single-molecule magnetic behavior: supramolecular approach to isolate magnetic molecules.

Using Na-encapsulated benzo[18]crown-6 (Na)(B18C6) as a counter cation, we successfully magnetically isolated a fluoride-bridging Dy dinuclear complex {[(PW11O39)Dy(H2O)2]2F} (Dy2POM) with lacunary Keggin ligands. (Na)(B18C6) formed two types of tetramers through C-H⋯O, π⋯π and C-H⋯π interactions, and each tetramer aligned in one dimension along the c-axis to form two types of channels. One channel was partially penetrated by a supramolecular cation from the ±a-axis direction, dividing the channel in the form of a "bamboo node". Dy2POM was spatially divided by this "bamboo node," which magnetically isolated one portion from the other. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility indicated a weak ferromagnetic interaction between the Dy ions bridged by fluoride. Dy2POM exhibited the magnetic relaxation characteristics of a single-molecule magnet, including the dependence of AC magnetic susceptibility on temperature and frequency. Magnetic relaxation can be described by the combination of thermally active Orbach and temperature-independent quantum tunneling processes. The application of a static magnetic field effectively suppressed the relaxation due to quantum tunneling.

Inorganic Chain Mediated Excitonic Properties in One-Dimensional Lead Halide Hybrid Perovskites.

Semiconductors that emit intrinsic white light are considered next-generation lighting sources. Herein, the broadband emission of one-dimensional (1D) lead halide perovskites, TMAPbBr3-xIx (x = 0, 1, 1.5, 2, 3; TMA+ = tetramethylammonium), is systematically investigated. Lattice distortion causes the conversion of dark excitons to bright self-trapped excitons. Owing to its strongly localized exciton recombination and high absorption probability, TMAPbBr3 is the most viable in this family. A delocalized hole increases the nonradiative recombination rate of excitons in TMAPbBr3-xIx alloys. In 1D TMAPbBr3-xIx perovskites, the vibration mode of the Pb-X bond stretching of the PbX6 octahedra contributes more to the effect on exciton-phonon coupling than the mode of the X-Pb-X angle bending. Pb-X bond stretching and spontaneous polarization can tune exciton binding energy. This systematic study of excitonic behavior in 1D compounds relates the nature of ground states to the unknown excited states and provides the rational design of materials with stable and efficient broadband emission.

Ferroelastic-like transition and solvents affect the magnetism of a copper-organic radical one-dimensional coordination polymer.

The one-dimensional coordination polymers {[CuII(hfac)2]3(m-BNN)}n·nCH2Cl2 (1·CH2Cl2, P1̄) and {[CuII(hfac)2]3(m-BNN)}n (1', P2/n), hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate and m-BNN = meta-phenylene bis(nitronyl-nitroxide), were obtained from CH2Cl2 and CHCl3, respectively. 1·CH2Cl2 is transformed to 1 at 335 K. Their magnetic susceptibilities differ in both magnitude and temperature dependence behavior. 1 and 1' undergo a ferroelastic-like phase transition at 110 K and an unidentified one at 37 K. There is a subtle long relaxation of this ferroelastic-like ordered state.

Publisher Correction: Metallofullerenes: Welcome to the single-molecule electret device.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Structural Phase Transitions of a Molecular Metal Oxide.

The structural phase of a metal oxide changes with temperature and pressure. During phase transitions, component ions move in multidimensional metal-oxygen networks. Such macroscopic structural events are robust to changes in particle size, even at scales of around 10 nm, and size effects limiting these transitions are particularly important in, for example, high-density memory applications of ferroelectrics. In this study, we examined structural transitions of the molecular metal oxide [Na@(SO3 )2 (n-BuPO3 )4 MoV 4 MoVI 14 O49 ]5- (Molecule 1) at approximately 2 nm by using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Na+ encapsulated in the discrete metal-oxide anion exhibited a reversible order-disorder transition with distortion of the Mo-O molecular framework induced by temperature. Similar order-disorder transitions were also triggered by chemical pressure induced by removing crystalline solvent molecules in the single-crystal state or by substituting the countercation to change the molecular packing.

Ligand Structure Effects on Molecular Assembly and Magnetic Properties of Copper(II) Complexes with 3-Pyridyl-Substituted Nitronyl Nitroxide Derivatives.

Reaction of Cu(hfac)2 with methyl- and bromo-3-pyridyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides (L R ) leads to assemble a diverse set of coordination complexes: mononuclear [Cu(hfac)2L 2-Me ], binuclear [{Cu(hfac)2}2(H2O)L 2-Me ], trinuclear [{Cu(hfac)2}3(L 6-Br )2], pentanuclear [{Cu(hfac)2}5(L 2-Me )2], and [{Cu(hfac)2}5(L 2-Me )4], cocrystals [Cu(hfac)2(L 2-Br )2]·[Cu(hfac)2(H2O)2] and [Cu(hfac)2(L 2-Br )2]·2[Cu(hfac)2H2O], one-dimensional polymers [Cu(hfac)2L 2-Br ] n and [Cu(hfac)2L 6-Br ] n , and cyclic dimers [Cu(hfac)2L 5-Me ]2, [Cu(hfac)2L 5-Br ]2, and [Cu(hfac)2L 6-Me ]2. The molecular structures of the obtained complexes are strongly affected by the substituent type and its location in the pyridine heterocycle. Occupation of the second position of the pyridine ring increases the steric hindrance of both imine and nitroxide coordination sites of L 2-R , which is favorable for the formation of various conformers and precipitation of complexes with different molecular structures. The pentanuclear [{Cu(hfac)2}5(L 2-Me )2] and [{Cu(hfac)2}5(L 2-Me )4] complexes do not have prior analogues and are valuable model objects for investigation of the mechanism of formation of various coordination polymers. The arrangement of long Cu-ONO bonds in {CuO6} square bipyramids due to the weakening nitroxide donor site in complexes, based on L 2-Me , L 2-Br , and L 6-Br ligands, results in ferromagnetic exchange interactions between spins of Cu2+ ions and nitroxides. Complexes with substituents that do not considerably affect the coordination ability of ligands (L 5-Me , L 5-Br , and L 6-Me ) exhibit strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between spins of Cu2+ ions and nitroxides.

Pressure-Controlled Migration of Paramagnetic Centers in a Heterospin Crystal.

A study of the single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation induced by temperature variation for the chain polymer Cu(II) complex with nitronyl nitroxide showed that an increase in the hydrostatic pressure of up to ∼0.07 GPa completely changes the intracrystalline displacements of molecules relative to one another. This, in turn, significantly affects the interaction energy of the unpaired electrons of the paramagnetic centers and hence the form of the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility χT. The cooling of crystals under normal conditions causes a rearrangement of the intrachain exchange clusters {>N-•O-Cu(II)-O•-N<} accompanied by a shortening of the distances between the paramagnetic centers. This changes the character of exchange interactions and generates multistage spin transitions. An increase in the hydrostatic pressure leads to a drastic change in the O···O distances between the nitroxyl fragments of adjacent chains, an increase in the antiferromagnetic exchange between them, and complete suppression of spin transitions.

Ferroelectric Behavior of a Hexamethylenetetramine-Based Molecular Perovskite Structure.

We report the development of a molecular ferroelectric material inspired by the hexamethylenetetramine (hmta) non-centrosymmetric molecular rotator. The bromide salt of diprotonated hmta (hmtaH2 ) crystalized as (hmtaH2 )(NH4 )Br3 in a metal-free ABX3 perovskite-type structure, in which the A and B sites are occupied by hmtaH2 2+ and ammonium cations, respectively. The compound crystallized in the Pma2 polar space group. A distorted polar perovskite structure formed owing to the distortion of {(NH4 )Br6 } octahedrons that are stabilized through the formation of NH⋅⋅⋅Br hydrogen bonds and the orientational ordering of positive charges on the non-centrosymmetric hmtaH2 molecules. This spontaneous polarization exhibited ferroelectric behavior with a nominally high Curie temperature (>400 K), in which the electrical switching of polarization originates from the rotation of the hmtaH2 unit.

Selective Ion Exchange in Supramolecular Channels in the Crystalline State.

Artificial ion channels are of increasing interest because of potential applications in biomimetics, for example, for realizing selective ion permeability through the transport and/or exchange of selected ions. However, selective ion transport and/or exchange in the crystalline state is rare, and to the best of our knowledge, such a process has not been successfully combined with changes in the physical properties of a material. Herein, by soaking single crystals of Li2 ([18]crown-6)3 [Ni(dmit)2 ]2 (H2 O)4 (1) in an aqueous solution containing K+ , we succeeded in complete ion exchange of the Li+ ions in 1 with K+ ions in the solution, while maintaining the crystalline state of the material. This ion exchange with K+ was selectively conducted even in mixed solutions containing K+ as well as Na+ /Li+ . Furthermore, remarkable changes in the physical properties of 1 resulted from the ion exchange. Our finding enables not only the realization of selective ion permeability but also the development of highly sensitive biosensors and futuristic ion exchange agents, for example.

Giant Hysteretic Single-Molecule Electric Polarisation Switching above Room Temperature.

Continual progress has been achieved in information technology through unrelenting miniaturisation of the single memory bit in integrated ferromagnetic, ferroelectric, optical, and related circuits. However, as miniaturisation approaches its theoretical limit, new memory materials are being sought. Herein, we report a unique material exhibiting single-molecule electric polarisation switching that can operate above room temperature. The phenomenon occurs in a Preyssler-type polyoxometalate (POM) cluster we call a single-molecule electret (SME). It exhibits all the characteristics of ferroelectricity but without long-range dipole ordering. The SME affords bi-stability as a result of the two potential positions of localisation of a Tb3+ ion trapped in the POM, resulting in extremely slow relaxation of the polarisation and electric hysteresis with high spontaneous polarisation and coercive electric fields. Our findings suggest that SMEs can potentially be applied to ultrahigh-density memory and other molecular-level electronic devices operating above room temperature.

Chemo-chromism in an orthogonal dabco-based Co(ii) network assembled by methanol-coordination and hydrogen bond formation.

Newly prepared single crystals of [Co(ii)(dabco)(NCS)2(MeOH)2]·dabco (1-pink; dabco: 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) showed chromotropic behaviour in the solid state, changing from pink to blue upon heating or grinding. The complex 1-pink exhibited a two-dimensional orthogonal network structure with the coordination chain of -dabco-Co- bridged by hydrogen bonds between coordinative methanol and a second dabco molecule, where the methanol molecule was trapped by coordinative and hydrogen bonds. Chromism was demonstrated to stem from the quantitative desorption of methanol from 1-pink to produce [Co(ii)(dabco)(NCS)2]·dabco (1-blue(c)) by thermogravimetric (TG) and temperature controlled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses, and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis suggests that the transformation between the crystalline phases of 1-pink and 1-blue(c) occurred with similar lattice parameters. Furthermore, the desolvated species showed chemo-chromic behaviour due to the selective size- and polarity-dependent adsorption of solvent molecules.

Preparation of Preyssler-type Phosphotungstate with One Central Potassium Cation and Potassium Cation Migration into the Preyssler Molecule to form Di-Potassium-Encapsulated Derivative.

A mono-potassium cation-encapsulated Preyssler-type phosphotungstate, [P5W30O110K]14- (1), was prepared as a potassium salt, K14[P5W30O110K] (1a), by heating mono-bismuth- or mono-calcium-encapsulated Preyssler-type phosphotungstates (K12[P5W30O110Bi(H2O)] or K13[P5W30O110Ca(H2O)]) in acetate buffer. Characterization of the potassium salt 1a by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis, 31P and 183W nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis revealed that one potassium cation is encapsulated in the central cavity of the Preyssler-type phosphotungstate molecule with a formal D 5h symmetry. Density functional theory calculations have confirmed that the potassium cation prefers the central position of the cavity over a side position, in which no water molecules are coordinated to the encapsulated potassium cation. 31P NMR and cyclic voltammetry analyses revealed the rapid protonation-deprotonation of the oxygens in the cavity compared to that of other Preyssler-type compounds. Heating of 1a in the solid state afforded a di-K+-encapsulated compound, K13[P5W30O110K2] (2a), indicating that a potassium counter-cation is introduced in one of the side cavities, concomitantly displacing the internal potassium ion from the center to a second side cavity, thus providing a new method to encapsulate an additional cation in Preyssler compounds.

Structural, Optical, Magnetic, and Dielectric Properties in Hybrid Solid Solutions of ZnαNi1-α(en)3Ag2I4 (0 < α < 1) by Varying the Relative Zn/Ni Content.

The hybrids of M(en)3Ag2I4 (M = Zn or Ni) are isostructural to each other and crystallize in space group P6322 with quite similar lattice parameters. The hybrid solid solutions ZnαNi1-α(en)3Ag2I4 (0 < α < 1) have been prepared via self-assembly in the mixed N,N-dimethylformamide solution of AgNO3, KI, and ethylenediamine, meanwhile, with certain relative amount of [Zn(en)3]2+ and [Ni(en)3]2+ ions at ambient condition. All hybrid solid solutions are isostructural to the parent hybrids M(en)3Ag2I4 (M = Zn or Ni). The UV-vis-near IR diffuse reflection spectra in solid state, thermogravimetric analysis, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility, and dielectrics have been investigated for ZnαNi1-α(en)3Ag2I4 (0 < α < 1). The intensity of bands centered at 540 and 860 nm in UV-vis-near IR spectra, arising from the d-d electron transition in Ni2+ ion, as well as the Curie constant decreases linearly with the molar fraction of Zn (α)/Ni (1 - α), whereas the c-axis length, the C-N and C-C bond lengths in the ethylenediamine, the frequency-independent dielectric permittivity and the onset temperature of dielectric relaxation, and so forth show nonmonotonical alternation with the fraction of Zn (α)/Ni (1 - α) in the solid solution, and the origin for these differences is further discussed.

(Azulene-1,3-diyl)-bis(nitronyl nitroxide) and (Azulene-1,3-diyl)-bis(iminonitroxide) and Their Copper Complexes.

In contrast to diradicals connected by alternant hydrocarbons, only a few studies on those connected by nonalternant hydrocarbons have been reported. The syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of azulene-1,3-diyl linked bis(nitronyl nitroxide) (NN2 Az) and bis(iminonitroxide) (IN2 Az) diradicals and their Cu(hfac)2 (hfac=hexafluoroacetylacetonate) complexes were investigated. NN2 Az was shown to have an intramolecular ferromagnetic interaction with Jobs /kB =+10.0 K (H=-2JS1 ⋅S2 ) between (nitronyl nitroxide) spins, whereas IN2 Az was estimated to have a much weaker intramolecular magnetic interaction. The reactions of NN2 Az and IN2 Az with Cu(hfac)2 gave a 1:2 [{Cu(hfac)2 }2 (NN2 Az)] complex and a 1:1 [Cu(hfac)2 (IN2 Az)]⋅C6 H12 complex, respectively. [{Cu(hfac)2 }2 (NN2 Az)] showed strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions (J1-Cu-R /kB ≈-800 K, J2-Cu-R /kB ≈-500 K) between the CuII spins and the coordinating NN spins, whereas [Cu(hfac)2 (IN2 Az)] exhibited a ferromagnetic exchange interaction (Jobs-Cu-R /kB =+114 K) between the CuII spin and the imino-coordinated iminonitroxide spin.

Two New Sandwich-Type Manganese {Mn5}-Substituted Polyoxotungstates: Syntheses, Crystal Structures, Electrochemistry, and Magnetic Properties.

Herein we report two pentanuclear MnII-substituted sandwich-type polyoxotungstate complexes, [{Mn(bpy)}2Na(H2O)2(MnCl)2{Mn(H2O)}(AsW9O33)2]9- and [{Mn(bpy)}2Na(H2O)2(MnCl){Mn(H2O)}2(SbW9O33)2]8- (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), whose structures have been obtained by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), complemented by results obtained from elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. They consist of two [B-α-XW9O33]9- subunits sandwiching a cyclic assembly of the hexagonal [{Mn(bpy)}2Na(H2O)2(MnCl)2{Mn(H2O)}]9+ and [{Mn(bpy)}2Na(H2O)2(MnCl){Mn(H2O)}2]10+ moieties, respectively, and represent the first pentanuclear MnII-substituted sandwich-type polyoxometalates (POMs). Both compounds have been synthesized by reacting MnCl2·4H2O with trilacunary Na9[XW9O33]·27H2O (X = AsIII and SbIII) POM precursors in the presence of bpy in a 1 M aqueous sodium chloride solution under mild reaction conditions. SCXRD showed that the alternate arrangement of three five-coordinated MnII ions and two six-coordinated MnII ions with an internal Na cation formed a coplanar six-membered ring that was sandwiched between two [B-α-XW9O33]9- (X = AsIII and SbIII) subunits. The results of temperature-dependent direct-current (dc) magnetic susceptibility data indicated ferromagnetic interactions between Mn ions in the cluster. Moreover, alternating-current magnetic susceptibility measurements with a dc-biased magnetic field showed the existence of a ferromagnetic order for both samples. Electrochemistry studies revealed the presence of redox processes assigned to the Mn centers. They are associated with the deposition of material on the working electrode surface, possibly MnxOy, as demonstrated by electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance experiments.

Coupling of Magnetic and Elastic Domains in the Organic-Inorganic Layered Perovskite-Like (C6 H5 C2 H4 NH3 )2 FeII Cl4 Crystal.

Multiferroic materials coupling ferroelasticity and ferromagnetism show strong magnetoelastic effects as magnetization is induced by mechanical stress or alternately strain induced by applying a magnetic field. These effects were reported for inorganic multiferroics such as LaCox Sr1-x O3 . (C6 H5 C2 H4 NH3 )2 FeII Cl4 is the first example of an organic-inorganic perovskite to exhibit such effects below the canted antiferromagnetism at TC =98 K and ferroelasticity at TC =433 K. This is shown by switching the magnetic hysteresis on and off by uniaxial pressure through the strong coupling of the magnetic and elastic domains. The spin-canting direction was controlled by mechanical stress in the heating and cooling cycles. This unique observation gives additional impetus in the search for coupled hysteretic effect in organic-inorganic multiferroics.

A dielectric anomaly observed for doubly reduced mixed-valence polyoxometalate.

Benzimidazolium is revealed to form quasi-isostructural crystals of mixed-valence molecular metal oxides that consist of [PMoMoO40]5- and fully oxidized [BWO40]5-. The structure and dielectric behaviour were compared and a dielectric anomaly was evident due to the electric dipole relaxation in the mixed-valence system.