Multinuclear Silver Ethynide Supramolecular Synthons for the Construction of Coordination Networks

Recent progress in atomically precise silver nanocluster-assembled materials

In the dynamic landscape of nanotechnology, atomically precise silver nanoclusters (Ag NCs) have emerged as a novel and promising category of materials with their fascinating properties and enormous potential. However, recent research endeavors have surged towards stabilizing Ag-based NCs, leading to innovative strategies like connecting cluster nodes with organic linkers to construct hierarchical structures, thus forming Ag-based cluster-assembled materials (CAMs). This approach not only enhances structural stability, but also unveils unprecedented opportunities for CAMs, overcoming the limitations of individual Ag NCs. In this context, this review delves into the captivating realm of atomically precise nitrogen-based ligand bonded Ag(I)-based CAMs, providing insights into synthetic strategies, structure-property relationships, and diverse applications. We navigate the challenges and advancements in integrating Ag(I) cluster nodes, bound by argentophilic interactions, into highly connected periodic frameworks with different dimensionalities using nitrogen-based linkers. Despite the inherent diversity among cluster nodes, Ag(I) CAMs demonstrate promising potential in sensing, catalysis, bio-imaging, and device fabrication, which all are discussed in this review. Therefore, gaining insight into the silver nanocluster assembly process will offer valuable information, which can enlighten the readers on the design and advancement of Ag(I) CAMs for state-of-the-art applications.

Self-Assembly of Silver Clusters into One- and Two-Dimensional Structures and Highly Selective Methanol Sensing

The development of new materials for the design of sensitive and responsive sensors has become a crucial research direction. Here, two silver cluster-based polymers (Ag-CBPs), including one-dimensional {[Ag22(L1)8(CF3CO2)14](CH3OH)2} n chain and two-dimensional {[Ag12(L2)2(CO2CF3)14(H2O)4(AgCO2CF3)4](HNEt3)2} n film, are designed and used to simulate the human nose, an elegant sensor to smells, to distinguish organic solvents. We study the relationship between the atomic structures of Ag-CBPs determined by x-ray diffraction and the electrical properties in the presence of organic solvents (e.g., methanol and ethanol). The ligands, cations, and the ligated solvent molecules not only play an important role in the self-assembly process of Ag-CBP materials but also determine their physiochemical properties such as the sensing functionality.

Investigation of the Effect of a Mixed-Ligand on the Accommodation of a Templating Molecule into the Structure of High-Nucleus Silver Clusters

Advancement of the synthesis and control of the self-assembly process of new high-nucleus silver clusters with desired structures is important for both the material sciences and the many applications. Herein, three new silver clusters, 20-, 22-, and 8-nucleus, based on alkynyl ligands were constructed and their structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analyses, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). For the first time, the trivalent tetrahedron anion of AsO₄^3-, as a template, and the surface ligand of Ph₂PO₂H, with new coordination modes, were employed in preparation of the silver clusters. The role of surface ligands and template anions in the size and structure of the clusters was investigated. The presence of the template in the structure of the clusters led to the formation of the high-nucleus clusters. Also, in this report, it was shown that the participation of the template in the assembly of a cluster can be controlled by the surface ligands. UV-vis absorption and luminescent properties of the clusters and the thermal stability of the 8-nucleus cluster were also studied.

Revisiting Ag–π interactions with bis((pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)hydrazine: CC versus CN bond complexation

Crystallographic and theoretical investigations of the assembly of bis((pyrrol-2-yl)methylene)hydrazine with Ag(i) salts suggest that, in the solid state, Ag–π interactions involve CC rather than CN pyrrolic bonds, in contrast with an earlier and unique report with this ligand.

Pre-organization of clefts for Ag-π interactions in Zn(ii) bisdipyrrin helicates for the construction of heterometallic networks

Coordination of 2,2'-bisdipyrrin based ligands to Zn(ii) cations leads to the formation of binuclear helicates with pre-organized pyrrolic strands as well as peripheral aromatic moieties for Ag-π interactions, thus affording crystalline heterometallic networks upon further interactions with Ag(i) salts without the assistance of additional heteroatom-based coordinating units.

Supramolecular gelatons: towards the design of molecular gels

The concept of supramolecular gelatons for the design of gels was proposed and described.

A Water-Stable Cl@Ag14 Cluster Based Metal-Organic Open Framework for Dichromate Trapping and Bacterial Inhibition

Decoding the principles of cluster-based framework assembly at the molecular level remains a persistent challenge. Herein, we isolated and characterized a novel water-stable three-dimensional (3D) metal-organic open framework [Cl@Ag₁₄(cPrC≡C)₁₀Cl₂·(p-TOS)·1/3H₂O]_n (SD/Ag14, cPrC≡CH = cyclopropylacetylene; p-TOS = p-toluenesulfonate), which contains a chloride-templated Ag₁₄ cluster as building block. For SD/Ag14, one chloride acts as the template to shape the Ag₁₄ cluster and the other bridges the clusters to a 3D pcu-h open framework. As revealed by high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (HRESI-MS), the Ag₁₂-Ag₁₄ species are potential cluster-based intermediates to the 3D pcu-h framework, which authenticates a preconceived idea that the 3D framework is hierarchically assembled from the silver clusters as observed in solid state. Interestingly, SD/Ag14 can be used effectively to remove the environmental pollutant Cr₂O₇^2- from wastewater through anion exchange in a single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SC-SC) transformation fashion. Furthermore, SD/Ag14 exhibits excellent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, thus making it a potential antibacterial agent.

Silver(i)-organic frameworks constructed from silver(i) 3,6-pyrazyldiethynide and 3,8-1,10-phenanthrolyldiethynide complexes

Two diynes bearing functional groups with different binding modes, 3,6-diethynylpyrazine (H₂L1) and 3,8-diethynyl-1,10-phenanthroline (H₂L2), were utilized as ligands to synthesize two new organometallic units, Ag₂L1·3AgNO₃ (1) and Ag₂L2·6AgNO₃ (2), in order to investigate the effect of the bridging and chelating modes of the ligands on the structures of networks constructed from silver-ethynide compounds. Structural studies show that in 1, silver-ethynide cluster units aggregate to form chair-like organometallic slides through Ag-N coordination bonds. These slides are linked through argentophilic interaction to generate novel 2D ladder-like layers, and are further bridged by nitrate anions to afford a 3D network in the solid state. It is observed that all the Ag ions in one layer interact to afford a 2D silver network. However, in 2, the silver-ethynide cluster units only interact to generate unique sine wave-like organometallic chains through argentophilic interaction, which are further connected by nitrate anions to form a 3D network. In the solid state, both 1 and 2 are luminescent at room temperature.

Solvent and anion effects on the organization of a luminescent [2 + 2] BODIPY/Ag(i) metallamacrocycle in the crystalline state

The assembly of a novel BODIPY bearing peripheral vinyl–benzonitrile groups with AgX salts (X⁻ = AsF₆⁻, BF₄⁻, ClO₄⁻) leads to the recurrent formation of a [2 + 2] [Ag₂(BODIPY)₂]²⁺ type metallamacrocycle featuring emission in the crystalline state.

Phosphorescent platinum(ii) alkynyls end-capped with benzothiazole units

Phosphorescent platinum(ii) alkynyls. Phosphorescent trans-bis(alkynyl) bis(phosphine) or bis(cyanide) Pt^II derivatives (1–4) based on the 2-phenylbenzothiazole unit have been prepared. The negative solvatochromic behavior of 4 has been analyzed by the Kamlet–Taft solvent scale and the Gutmann's acceptor numbers. The optical properties were addressed by TD and DFT calculations on 2 and 4.

A Silver(I)-Estrogen Nanocluster: GSH Sensitivity and Targeting Suppression on HepG2 Cell

A structure-determined silver nanocluster of [Ag₁₀ (Eth)₄ (CF₃ COO)₆ (CH₃ OH)₃ ]·3C-H₃ OH (Eth = ethisterone) (1), is firstly demonstrated by self-assembly of silver salt and ethisterone. Due to the thiophilicity of silver(I) ions, complex 1 shows reactivity with glutathione (GSH) molecules in solution and induces the fluorescence quenching behavior. Thus, complex 1 can be used as a fluorescent sensor for GSH. In consideration of the higher level of GSH in cancerous cells, complex 1 presents significant tumor suppression reactivity toward the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells with IC₅₀ value of 165 × 10^-9 m. Especially, complex 1 displays 3.4-fold higher in vitro cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells than that of the normal CCC-HEL-1 cells, which makes complex 1 a potential targeting suppression agent for cancerous cells. The molecular design of complex 1 not only generates a new medicine-silver(I) cluster family, but also opens a new avenue to the targeting anticancer organosilver(I) materials.

A stepwise bulk-to-cluster-to-particle transformation toward the efficient synthesis of alkynyl-protected silver nanoclusters

We report herein the efficient synthesis of alkynyl-protected silver nanoclusters in terms of macrocycle-assisted bulk-to-cluster-to-nanoparticle transformation. Different substituted phenylacetylide ligands are applied to stabilize the silver nanoclusters by metal-carbon bonds and meanwhile determine the size of silver nanoclusters.

Ethynide-stabilized high-nuclearity silver(i) sulfido molecular clusters assembled using organic sulfide precursors

Inexpensive 1,1'-thiocarbonyldiimidazole and di(2-pyridyl) thionocarbonate have been used as respective sulfide precursors to assemble unprecedented high-nuclearity ethynide-stabilized silver(i) sulfido molecular clusters [Ag9S6@Ag36(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C(t)Bu)32(H2O)2] [Ag(imidazole)(CH3OH)(H2O)](BF4)2·8H2O·2CH3OH (1) and [Ag120S24(PhC[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)52Cl4(2-pyridone)10(H2O)8](H3O)4(SiF6)8(BF4)4·CH3OH·22H2O (2), the latter being the largest isolated silver(i) ethynide cluster reported to date.

Supramolecular Synthons: Will Giant Rigid Superspheres Do?

For the first time, the concept of supramolecular synthons was applied to giant rigid superspheres based on pentaphosphaferrocene [Cp^RFe(η⁵-P₅)] (R = Me, Et) and Cu(I) halides, which reach 2.1-3.0 nm in diameter. Two supramolecular synthons, σ-π and π-π, are discovered based on halogen···Cp^R and Cp*···Cp* specific interactions, respectively. The geometry of the synthons is reproducible in a series of crystal structures of various supramolecules. The σ-π synthon alone is realized more frequently for Br-containing superspheres. A combination of the σ-π and π-π synthons is more typical for Cl-containing supramolecules. Each supramolecule can bear up to nine synthons to give mostly 2D and 3D architectures.

Synthesis and characterization of non-bridging mono- and bis-σ-η1-alkynyl derivatives of the phosphido-bridged hexaplatinum core [Pt6(μ-PBut2)4(CO)4]2+

Several mono- or bis-alkynyl derivatives of the [Pt₆(μ-PBu^t₂)₄(CO)₄]²⁺ core, pivotal intermediates in the synthesis of new cluster-containing oligomers, were prepared and fully characterized.

Asymmetrically fused polyoxometalate-silver alkynide composite cluster

We demonstrate that an asymmetric composite cluster, [Ag25{C≡CC(CH3)3}16(CH3CN)4(P2W15Nb3O62)] (1), consisting of directly fused polyoxometalate and silver alkynide moieties can be facilely synthesized by a one-pot reaction between a Nb-substituted Dawson-type polyoxometalate, H4[α-P2W15Nb3O62](5-), and the mixture of (CH3)3CC≡CAg and CF3SO3Ag. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed the structure of 1, where Ag atoms are selectively attached to the Nb-substituted hemisphere of the pedestal Dawson anion. Its structural integrity in the solution was demonstrated by (31)P NMR spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation. The latter method also unveiled the stepwise formation mechanism of 1.

Assembly of silver alkynyl compounds with various nuclearities

A series of silver alkynyl oligomers exhibiting nuclearities varying from 3 to 12 have been isolated. The new structural motifs are obtained by controlling the reactant ratios and using ligands/anions with different nature.

An organic anion template: a 24-nucleus silver cluster encapsulating a squarate dimer

An unprecedented organic anion templated silver cluster has been isolated, leading to unusual π–π interaction within the encapsulated squarate dimer.

Organosilver(I) framework assembly with trifluoroacetate and enediyne-functionalized alicycles

Eight new silver(I) trifluoroacetate complexes based on a series of designed ligands, each featuring an alicyclic ring with enediyne functionality, have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each ethynide terminal is inserted into an Agn (n = 4-5) basket, leading to the generation of coordination chain or layer structures, but the well shielded ethenyl group does not take part in silver-olefin bonding. Variation in ring size of the alicycles is shown to influence the construction of the organosilver(I) coordination networks, which are consolidated by weak intermolecular interactions in the crystal structures. The effect of adding ancillary N-donor ligands to the reaction system on the coordination and supramolecular network assembly is also investigated.

Assembly of Layer-Type Organosilver(I) Complexes Incorporating Nitrate and Isomeric Halophenylethynide Ligands

Single-crystal X-ray analysis of a series of 10 silver(i) nitrate complexes containing carbon-rich ligands each composed of a halosubstituted phenyl nucleus bearing a terminal ethynyl group at various positions provided detailed information on the influence of ligand disposition and orientation, coordination preferences, and the co-existence of silver(i)–ethynide and silver(i)–halogen interactions in the construction of coordination networks, which are consolidated by argentophilic and weak intra or intermolecular interactions.