Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and spectroscopic characterization of heterotrinuclear oxo-centered complex [Fe2NiO(CH3CH2COO)6(H2O)3]

A quest for cytocompatible metal organic frameworks in non-viral gene therapy: Relevance of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging group of nanomaterials for successful biomedical applications in gene therapy. The most commonly biocompatible MOFs are zinc-based ZIFs, zirconium-based UiOs, and iron-based MILs. However, despite increasing applications, a comparative study to underscore the critical factors for determining effective gene delivery by such MOFs is lacking. Herein, we evaluate the potential of UiO-66 and MIL-88B and ZIF-8 for gene therapeutics delivery; revealing the comparative importance of ZIF-8. Cytotoxicity assays proved insufficient for selecting the ideal gene delivery MOF vehicle. Synthesis conditions such as ability of the MOF scaffold to envelop the gene during in-situ synthesis, post-treatment such as washing, and gene loading efficiency proved to be the critical factors in determining the favourable MOF from the material selection perspective. Rapid in-situ synthesis under physiological conditions, successful gene loading, and low concentration requirements favour ZIF MOFs as gene delivery vehicles. Impact on cellular physiology, metabolism, and architecture revealed neutrality of the delivery system; and relative effects on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines suggest immunomodulatory impact.

Using Predefined M3(μ3-O) Clusters as Building Blocks for an Isostructural Series of Metal-Organic Frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted much attention in the past decade owing to their unprecedented internal surface areas, tunable topologies, designable surfaces, and various potential applications. One bottleneck in the field regarding MOF synthesis is controlling the metal-containing secondary building unit (SBU) incorporated into the structure. In this work we report the synthesis and characterization of five trimeric [M₃(μ₃-O)(CH₃CO₂)₆]^x clusters (where M = Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺/Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺/Co²⁺, or Fe³⁺/Ni²⁺ and x = +1 or 0). The monocarboxylate capping ligand, acetate in this case, readily undergoes exchange with several difunctional counterparts, including 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H₂-BDC) and biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (H₂-BPDC), for the formation of an isostructural series of MOFs, several of which are newly reported (for M = Fe³⁺/Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺/Co²⁺, and Fe³⁺/Ni²⁺) and show excellent CO₂ adsorption properties. In this report, a host of techniques including NMR, ICP, and ESI-MS are used to probe the ligand exchange process and composition of the SBUs, and XAS is used to monitor the Fe³⁺ and Cr³⁺ environment throughout the reactions, giving strong evidence that the clusters stay intact throughout the MOF synthesis. This work reveals that predefined SBUs is an effective means to create metal-substituted analogues of known frameworks. Further, CO adsorption and in situ IR are used to probe accessibility of the metals after solvent removal. We show for the first time that the incorporation of the neutral clusters, containing weaker Lewis acids like Ni²⁺ and Co²⁺, can promote the formation of open metal sites in the MOF frameworks, structural features known to enhance the binding energy of small guest molecules like CO₂.

Vibrational assignment and structure of trinuclear oxo-centered of basic formate iron(III) and chromium(III) complexes: a density functional theory study

[Fe3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3]OOCH·HCOOH, and [Cr3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3]OOCH·2.5HNO3 were synthesized and the molecular structure and vibrational assignments of their cations were investigated by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The harmonic vibrational frequencies of [Fe3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3]+ and [Cr3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3]+ were obtained at the UB3LYP level using a series of basis sets. The topological properties of the charge distribution of both cations in their ground states are discussed in detail by means of natural bond orbital (NBO) theory and of [Fe3O(OOCH)6(H2O)3]+ by the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (AIM). The calculated geometrical parameters and vibrational frequencies were compared with the experimental results. The scaled theoretical frequencies and the structural parameters were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structure analysis of a novel oxo-centered mixed-metal complex containing unsaturated bridging carboxylates

A novel oxo-centered trinuclear mixed-metal carboxylate complex with unsaturated bridging ligands [Fe2Cr(µ3-O)(C3H3O2)6(H2O)3]·NO3·4H2O has been synthesized and characterized by means of Elemental analyses, Infrared spectroscopy and Crystal structure analysis. The compound crystallizes isotypically in the monoclinic space group type P21/c. In the compound, each M(III) cation is coordinated by six O atoms from four unsaturated carboxylate groups as bridging ligands, one water molecule as the terminal ligand, and a µ3-oxygen atom in the center of an equilateral triangle. The infrared spectra show resolved bands arising from νasym(COO) and νsym(COO) vibration of bridging carboxylate ligands along with those of νasym(M2M′O) vibration in the complex. The difference between symmetrical and asymmetrical (COO) ligands indicate that the acrylate bridge is present in the structure of complex.