European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry

This microreview focuses on literature studies dedicated to calixarene-based fluorescent molecular sensors for the detection of toxic metal ions. Special attention is paid to the nature of the cation-induced photophysical effects.

SnO₂, Fe₂O₃, and BiOCl fibers were synthesized using metal chlorides as the precursors through a combined templating route. Interestingly, BiOCl fibers with different morphologies were obtained by varying the solvent and reaction temperature, and they present good photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange.

These [Mn₄] dicubanes are the first ferrocene-substituted single-molecule magnets (SMMs), which are of great interest for further magnetic and electrochemical studies. Redox-active ferrocene-based ligands are attractive for limiting intermolecular interactions by providing steric bulk as well as the possibility of creating cationic species, which can then be further isolated by large counterions.

The reaction of 3,3,5,5-tetraphenyl-1,2,4-trithiolane with several Pt⁰ complex fragments bearing bridged bisphosphane ligands results in the formation of the corresponding dithiolato as well as the η²-thioketone complex. The reactions were found to be of first order, pointing to thermal cycloreversion of the heterocycle as the initial step.

Zn-based mixed-linker metal-organic frameworks (MIXMOFs), in which benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate linkers are partially substituted by functionalized 2-aminobenzene-1,4-dicarboxylate, represent a new class of catalysts for the synthesis of propylene carbonate. The amount of catalytically active amino groups can be controlled by choosing the desired ratio of the two linker molecules.

The supramolecular interaction between various Zn(salphen) complexes and (substituted) pyridine donors has been studied in detail. The strength of the interaction depends both on the rigidity of the salen bridging fragment as well as on the presence of ortho-substituents on the pyridine ligand. Two remarkable four component assemblies were crystallographically characterized.

Bis(salicylaldiminate) and bis(β-diketiminate) ligands, in which the O,N- and N,N-chelating units are directly coupled by nitrogen–nitrogen bonding, have been used to prepare a series of Mg, Ca and Zn complexes. In some cases heteroleptic complexes that are stable towards ligand exchange could be isolated.

A novel synthetic approach for the introduction of a methylphosphonic acid pendant arm onto the cyclam backbone is presented. The stability of selected divalent metal complexes is described as well as the X-ray structure of the copper(II) complex. Mechanisms of formation/dissociation of copper(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes were established.

The reactions of gallium(I) and indium(I) heterocycles with transition metal carbonyl compounds have afforded a series of complexes in which the heterocycles act as σ-donors and display negligible π-accepting capabilities. Color code: purple = In, green = Ru, orange = P, red = O, light blue = N.

The reaction of a bis(bidentate) heterodonor S-S/N-O ligand with nickel(II) ions yields either a mononuclear complex with an {NiS₄} coordination polyhedron or a dinuclear double-stranded complex with two identical {Ni(S-S)(N-O)} coordination polyhedra, depending on the stoichiometric conditions employed.

Ni₂(C₆H₁₉N₄)₂(V₆O₁₈)·2H₂O (1) and Ni₂(C₆H₁₉N₄)₂(V₆O₁₈)·H₂O (2) are structurally related, as the layers from which they are built have the same composition and connectivity. The main difference between them is the layer stacking and water content. Phase 1 undergoes a reversible structural transformation at ca. 60 °C as a result of the dehydration process involving the approach of the layers.

A number of Al complexes were synthesized, characterized, and investigated as catalysts for ring-opening polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone in the presence of benzyl alcohol.

The hydrothermal conversion of ZnO nanorod bundles into zinc glycerolate (ZnGly) microstacks of linear morphology is reported. The hexagonal prisms forming the synthesized ZnGly microstacks are bound together strongly enough to withstand mechanical perturbation by a contacting AFM tip.

A series of μ-oxido-bridged (2,2′-bidipyrrinato)iron(III) complexes was prepared by a one-pot method and investigated by spectroscopic, crystallographic and magnetic methods. Electronically, the new species are found between related porphyrinoid and salen-type complexes. These compounds show much promise as precursors for the further development of iron chelates with open-chain tetrapyrroles.

UV irradiation of Boc-substituted 1-aminoalkylcymantrenes yields dicarbonyl chelate complexes as a result of the coordination of the oxygen atom of the carbamate ligand to the manganese atom. These complexes possess high thermodynamic and kinetic stability in solution and in closed systems can be used for the creation of photochromic systems.

Zinc and cadmium tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolates with 2-methylimidazole as a co-ligand are close structural models of the active site of alcohol dehydrogenase (LADH, EC 1.1.1.1). These complexes, which are capable of binding methanol and ethanol, were characterised by FTIR, ¹³C, ²⁹Si, and ¹¹³Cd NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction.

The antiferromagnetic three-dimensional coordination polymer Mn(H₂O)[C₆H₃(CO₂)₂(CO₂H)]·(H₂O) (FJU-2), which contains elliptical hydrophilic 1D channels, is assembled under pH-controlled hydrothermal conditions using a partially deprotonated unsymmetrical ligand (1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic acid) as the organic linker.

Bis(quinoxaline)-2,2′,3,3′-disulfide (Q₂S₂) forms a stable solid adduct with molecular I₂, (Q₂S₂·I₂)_∞. The facile insertion of I₂ into the Q₂S₂ network makes this compound suitable for I₂ storage. Q₂S₂ can easily collect and release I₂(g) by a temperature-controlled process.