Discriminative Molecular Detection Based on Competitive Absorption by a Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework.

Distinguishing specific molecules from similar chemical species with minor structural differences is challenging, and differentiation has typically been based on analyte-dependent host-guest interactions upon irradiation with a single wavelength. In this study, we prepared a Cd-based metal-organic framework exhibiting nearly constant emission intensity over a wide range of excitations. Because of its unique emission characteristics, this material facilitated the differentiation of specific molecules amidst structurally similar chemical species via competitive absorption. Such discriminative identification was uniquely achieved based on the use of different excitation wavelengths and is demonstrated to be applicable to the recognition of a target analyte in sensory applications.

Control of Interchain Antiferromagnetic Coupling in Porous Co(II)-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks by Tuning the Aromatic Linker Length: How Far Does Magnetic Interaction Propagate?

Three MOF-74-type Co(II) frameworks with one-dimensional hexagonal channels have been prepared. Co(II) spins in a chain are ferromagnetically coupled through carboxylate and phenoxide bridges. Interchain antiferromagnetic couplings via aromatic ring pathways operate over a Co-Co length shorter than ∼10.9 Å, resulting in a field-induced metamagnetic transition, while being absent over lengths longer than ∼14.7 Å.

Slow relaxation dynamics of a mononuclear Er(iii) complex surrounded by a ligand environment with anisotropic charge density.

Two sets of isostructural mononuclear compounds, [Ln(LOMe)2(H2O)2](PF6) [1, Ln = Er; 3, Ln = Gd; LOMe = CpCo{P(O)(O(CH3))2}3] and Ln(LOMe)2(NO3) (2, Ln = Er and 4, Ln = Gd), are synthesized by self-assembly of the respective lanthanide ions and tripodal chelate ligands. The Ln ions are encircled by two LOMe ligands, and two water molecules or one nitrate anion. Each octacoordinated Ln center adopts a distorted square antiprism geometry. The Er complex (2) chelated by a nitrate anion shows slow dynamics in magnetic relaxation, diagnostic of a single-ion magnet. Quantum tunneling in 2 is effectively blocked by application of an external field. Weak intermolecular magnetic interactions occur in 2, and are supported by the magnetic behavior of 4. Chemical dilution of Er with the diamagnetic Y ion can nullify magnetic interactions and suppress quantum tunneling. Generation of slow relaxation dynamics in the Er system is related to the anisotropic charge distribution supplied by the coordination of ligands with different charge densities, as observed in the Dy analogue. This suggests that magnetic anisotropy arises in a coordination system when an anisotropic lanthanide ion (Dy and Er) is surrounded by a ligand environment with anisotropic charge density, resulting in slow magnetic relaxation.