Homochiral, Supramolecular Frameworks Built from a Zinc(II) Tetramer or Cadmium(II) Dimer Containing Enantiopure Carboxylate Ligands Functionalized with a Strong π···π Stacking Synthon

Self-Assemblies of Zinc Complexes for Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen Precursors

Positional isomers of zinc-nitrobenzoate complexes possessing pyridine -3-(or-4-) carboxamide are used for a comparative theoretical and experimental study to understand their utility as model complexes to understand the role of metal-to-ligand charge transfer in aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Among the five different model zinc complexes, four of them are non-ionic, and one is an ionic complex. The frontier molecular energy levels of different combinations of the positional isomeric complexes and the absorption maximum were ascertained by density functional theory calculations. The PolyQ value obtained from solid samples of each complex is different. Shifts in the emissions to higher wavelengths than the expected emission for the S₁ to S₀ transition were observed due to aggregations. The highest value of PolyQ among the complexes was 13.56% observed for emission at 439 nm (λ_ex = 350) of the non-ionic complex, namely, (di-aqua)bis(pyridine-3-carboxamide)di(2-nitrobenzoato)zinc(II) monohydrate. Close resemblance in emission lifetime decay profiles of the solid samples of those complexes and the respective solutions of those complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide with or without water showed a common trend, suggesting aggregation-induced emission in each case. Aggregation-induced emission caused by adding water in dimethyl sulfoxide solution of each complex showed an initial increase without a shift in the emission wavelength followed by a quenching with a shift of the respective emission peak to a short wavelength. Dynamic light scattering studies showed an increase in the average particle sizes upon an increase in the concentration of water. This indicated initial participation of water molecules to form aggregates with the complexes, favoring an increase in the AIE intensity. Aggregation of each complex changes with the concentration of water, and an increase in the concentration of water beyond a characteristic limit causes lowering of the emission intensity to the short wavelength.

A twofold interpenetrating three-dimensional heterometallic metal–organic framework with pcu topology based on 2-methylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid

The 2-methylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate (mbpdc2−) ligand has versatile coordination modes and can be used to construct multinuclear structures. Despite this, reports of the synthesis of coordination complexes involving this ligand are scarce. The title compound, poly[[triaquadi-μ3-hydroxido-hexakis(μ4-2-methylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato)calcium(II)hexazinc(II)] monohydrate], {[CaZn6(C15H10O4)6(OH)2(H2O)3]·H2O} n , has been prepared by the hydrothermal assembly of Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, CaCl2 and 2-methylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid. Two ZnII atoms adopt a four-coordinated distorted tetrahedral geometry by bonding to three O atoms from three different 2-methylbiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate (mbpdc2−) dianionic ligands and one bridging hydroxide O atom. For the remaining ZnII atom, a five-coordinate environment is completed half the time by one carboxylate O atom, and then the same carboxylate O atom and an aqua O atom are present the other half of the time, giving a six-coordinate environment. The CaII atom is coordinated by six O atoms to give an octahedral coordination geometry. The supramolecular secondary building unit (SBU) is a hamburger-like heptanuclear unit (Zn6CaO30) and these units are interconnected through mbpdc2− carboxylate groups to generate a three-dimensional framework with the pcu topology. The single net leaves voids that are filled by mutual interpenetration of an independent equivalent framework in a twofold interpenetrating architecture. The title compound shows thermal stability up to 673 K. The excitation and luminescence data showed the emission of a bright-blue fluorescence.

Competing phenol–imidazole and phenol–phenol interactions in the flexible supramolecular environment of N,N′-bis(3-imidazol-1-ylpropyl)naphthalenediimide causing domain expansion

Spectroscopic and crystallographic studies on cocrystals of N,N′-bis(3-imidazol-1-yl-propyl)naphthalenediimide (L) with a series of phenolic compounds have revealed that competition to form phenol–imidazole and phenol–phenol synthons causes domain expansion.

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.

Integration of a semi-rigid proline ligand and 4,4'-bipyridine in the synthesis of homochiral metal-organic frameworks with helices

A pair of 3-D homochiral metal-organic frameworks (HMOFs) based on a mixed semi-rigid 5-(2-carboxypyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)isophthalate (PIA) ligand and rigid 4,4'-bipyridine (bipy), [Co3((R)-PIA)2(bipy)3]·6H2O (1-D) and [Co3((S)-PIA)2(bipy)3]·6H2O (1-L) are synthesized and structurally characterized. They are enantiomers and exhibit three-dimensional open frameworks. In each structure, the PIA ligands link the Co centers into homochiral frameworks with large open channels that are occupied by the bipy ligands. Interesting helical chains built from the connectivity between PIA ligands and Co centers are presented. Antiferromagnetic coupling is observed in 1-D. These results demonstrated that the mixed ligand approach is successful for the construction of HMOFs.

Influence of N-heteroaromatic π–π stacking on supramolecular assembly and coordination geometry; effect of a single-atom change in the ligand

A study on how the polarization of aromatic systems, through the introduction of a nitrogen heteroatom, affects the π–π interactions and crystal packing of mercury coordination compounds.

Cyclic aromatic imides as a potential class of molecules for supramolecular interactions

Prospects of stacking interactions of imides beneficial to generation of new soft materials are projected by analysing examples of primary building blocks that provide a basis for understanding at the molecular level.

Porous materials based on metal–nucleobase systems sustained by coordination bonds and base pairing interactions

Two approaches to metal–nucleobase porous materials: coordination bond sustained MOFs and hydrogen bond pairing based SMOFs.

Synthesis, crystal structure and EPR spectroscopic analysis of novel copper complexes formed from N-pyridyl-4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide ligands

The synthesis of two new monodentate pyridyl based 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide ligands and their corresponding Cu-complexes (using various salts) is described. Of these, complexes 1–3 and 5, all gave rise to structures that were characterised by X-ray crystallography and EPR.

Effect of robust π–π stacking synthon on the formation of mercury coordination compounds; an unusual pseudo-square planar geometry

In this study, three Hg(ii) complexes, [HgCl₂(L2-naph)]_n, 1, [HgBr₂(L2-naph)]_n, 2 and [HgI₂(L2-naph)₂], 3 where L2-naph is N-(naphthalene-2-yl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide ligand have been synthesized and characterized.