Recent Advances in Various Metal-Organic Channels for Photochemistry beyond Confined Spaces

Two novel nitrogen-rich metal-organic nanotubes: syntheses, structures and selective adsorption toward rare earth ions

The construction and development of metal-organic nanotubes (MONTs) with nanoscale interior channel diameters for potential applications is of great interest. An angular nitrogen-rich ligand, 3,6-bis(2-ethylimidazole)-2-methylpyrimidine (beim-CH3), was designed to construct MONTs by coupling with the V-shaped carboxylate ligands of benzophenone 4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (H2bpndc) and 4,4'-oxybisbenzoic acid (H2obba). Two new MONTs were synthesized and named NCD-166 ([Zn(bpndc)(beim-CH3)]·H2O) and NCD-167 ([Zn(obba)(beim-CH3)]·H2O), and they were isostructural and have almost identical tube inner diameters of approximately 1.76 nm. Benefiting from the abundantly exposed nitrogen and oxygen atoms in their tube walls and open nanoporous channels, they display superior adsorption capacities for Eu3+ (150.90 mg g-1) and high adsorption selectivity (>96%) in the low-concentration solutions. Additionally, it was revealed that the adsorption effect of ether oxygen on rare earth elements was significantly better than that of carbonyl oxygen. The adsorption isotherm conformed to the Langmuir model and the adsorption kinetics obeyed the pseudo-second-order model. These results clearly indicate that such novel MONTs are favorable sorbents for REEs.

Formation Process of SiF6@Cu2L4 Chiral Cage Pairs in a Glass Vessel: Catechol Oxidation Catalysis and Chiral Recognition

Self-assembly of CuX2 (X- = BF4-, PF6-, and SbF6-) with a pair of chiral bidentate ligands, (1R,2S)-(+)- and (1S,2R)-(-)-1-(nicotinamido)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl-nicotinate (r,s-L or s,r-L), in a mixture solvent including ethanol in a glass vessel gives rise to SiF62--encapsulated Cu2L4 chiral cage products. The SiF62- anion from the reaction of X- with SiO2 of the glass-vessel surface acts as a cage template or cage bridge. One of the products, [SiF6@Cu2(SiF6)(s,r-L)4]·3CHCl3·4EtOH, is one of the most effective heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol. Furthermore, an l-DOPA/d-DOPA pair is recognizable by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) signals of its combination with chiral cages [SiF6@Cu2(BF4)2(s,r- or r,s-L)4]·4CHCl3·2EtOH pair and [SiF6@Cu2(SiF6)(s,r- or r,s-L)4]·3CHCl3·4EtOH pair.

Crystals of Ni6L12 Ellipsoidal Tubes as Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Adsorption Matrix: Penetrative Study of Self-Assembled Crystals vs Guest-Exchanged Crystals

Informative similarities/differences between self-assembled and single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) guest-exchanged crystals based on both the molecular structure and adsorption nature are observed. The self-assembly of Ni(ClO4)2 with a dicyclopentyldi(pyridine-3-yl)silane bidentate ligand (L) in a mixture of toluene and acetonitrile gives rise to purple crystals consisting of double-stranded ellipsoidal tubes, [Ni6(ClO4)4(CH3CN)8L12]·8ClO4·4CH3CN·5C7H8. The coordinated acetonitriles as well as the solvates are removed at 170 °C to transform the purple crystals into blue crystals of [Ni(ClO4)2L2]n that return to the original crystals in the mixture of toluene and acetonitrile. Further, the toluene and acetonitrile solvates of the original crystals are replaced by o-, m-, and p-xylene isomers within 5 min in a SCSC manner. In the present study, SCSC xylene-exchanged crystals were compared with crystals obtained from direct self-assembly in a mixture of each xylene isomer and acetonitrile.

Novel Ce-based coordination polymer nanoparticles with excellent oxidase mimic activity applied for colorimetric assay to organophosphorus pesticides

Cerium, as a lanthanide, has attracted considerable interest because of its excellent catalytic activity. Here, we propose a novel cerium-based coordination polymer nanoparticles named DPA-Ce-GMP, which have excellent oxidase-mimicking properties. Furthermore, a colorimetric probe that can act as an inhibitor to suppress the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was developed for detecting organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). DPA-Ce-GMP catalyzes colorless 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to produce a blue color, and AChE catalyzes acetylthiocholine to produce thiocholine (TCh), which can weaken DPA-Ce-GMP-catalyzed TMB. After the addition of OPs, the enzymatic activity of AChE was inhibited to produce less amount of TCh, resulting in more DPA-Ce-GMP-catalyst oxidized TMB to show an increasing blue color. Dichlorvos, as the samples, with the limit of 0.024 μg/L. Overall, we believe that the colorimetric probe can be used for the rapid, low-cost, and large-scale field detection of OPs in food samples.

Reversible Multielectron Release from Redox-Active Three-Dimensional Molecular Barrels with Ruthenium-Alkenyl Moieties

Three-dimensional molecular barrels Ru₆-4 and Ru₆-5 were synthesized in high yields from dinuclear ruthenium-vinyl clamps and tritopic triphenylamine-derived carboxylate linkers and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy including ¹H-¹H COSY and ¹H DOSY measurements, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. The metal frameworks of the cages adopt the shape of twisted trigonal prisms, and they crystallize as racemic mixtures of interdigitating Δ- and Λ-enantiomers with a tight columnar packing in Ru₆-4. Electrochemical studies and redox titrations revealed that the cages are able to release up to 11 electrons on the voltammetric timescale and that their cage structures persist up to the hexacation level. IR and UV-vis-near-infrared spectroelectrochemical studies confirm substituent-dependent intramolecular electronic communication within the π-conjugated 1,3-divinylphenylene backbone in the tricationic states, where all three divinylphenylene-bridged diruthenium clamps are present in mixed-valent radical cation states. The formation of 1:3 charge-transfer salts with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane as the electron acceptor is also demonstrated.

Solvent media as the driving force in the formation of one-dimensional silver(I) coordination polymers with 2-methylidene-1,3-bis(nicotinoyloxy)propane

Two kinds of silver(I) coordination polymers consisting of the same chemical composition, [Ag(CF3SO3)(L)] [L is 2-methylidene-1,3-bis(nicotinoyloxy)propane], were synthesized and characterized by infrared (IR) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffractometry; these are catena-poly[[(trifluoromethanesulfonato-κO)silver(I)]-μ-2-methylenepropane-1,3-diyl dinicotinate-κ2 N:N′], [Ag(CF3SO3)(C16H14N2O4)] n , and its chloroform monosolvate, {[Ag(CF3SO3)(C16H14N2O4)]·CHCl3} n . The X-ray crystallographic measurements revealed that the silver(I) compounds exhibit one-dimensional sinusoidal or helical molecular structures depending on the solvent used for crystallization. Self-assembly in a methanol/chloroform mixture produces the sinusoidal molecular strand, whereas recrystallization from acetonitrile medium affords a racemic mixture of the helical strands. These compounds display a fluorescence emission arising from both the ligand-centred transition and the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) in the solid state under ambient conditions.

Unusual porous crystals via catenation of 1D ladders: unprecedented mixture effects on the adsorption of xylene isomers in a SCSC mode

The pseudo 2D open-channel crystals formed via catenation of 1D ladders show unusual mixture effects on the adsorption of o-, m-, and p-xylene isomers in a SCSC mode, and are a practical template for structural determination of small hydrocarbons.

Stepwise coordination isomerism of 2D networks: adsorption of diiodomethane into crystals and recognition in SCSC mode

3CH₂Cl₂·2C₂H₅OH@[CdI₂L] with a new 2D topology of {4³·6²·8} are isomerized into new single crystals of 4C₄H₈O@[CdI₂L]. Interestingly, both crystals are integral to an efficient and tolerant matrix for recognition of diiodomethane in the SCSC mode.

Pair of chiral molecular ladders and successive hydration in single-crystal-to-single-crystal mode

Self-assembly of Zn(NO3)2 with a pair of new tridentate chiral Ls produced a pair of chiral ladder-type 1D coordination polymers, where crystals were transformed into different hydrated products of zigzag 1Ds depending on chirality in the SCSC mode.

Flexibility and anion exchange of [(X)@Pd2L4] cages for recognition of size and charge of polyatomic anions

The self-assembly of Pd(NO3)2 with L (L = 1,2-bis(dimethyl(pyridin-3-yl)silyl)ethane) gives rise to [PdL2](NO3)2 in high yields. Anion exchange of [PdL2](NO3)2 with X- (X- = BF4-, ClO4-, and PF6-) changes the skeleton into a cage of [(X)@Pd2L4](X)3. Successive anion exchange of [(X)@Pd2L4](X)3 (X- = BF4-, ClO4-, and PF6-) with X- (X- = ReO4- and SiF62-) produces [(ReO4)@Pd2L4](ReO4)3 and [(SiF6)@Pd2L4](SiF6), respectively, irrespective of anion charge. The flexible nature and conformation of cages are significantly dependent on the nestled polyatomic anions. Thus, this system can be used as a molecular recognizer of the size and charge of ubiquitous polyatomic anions.

General Approach for Constructing Mechanoresponsive and Redox-Active Metal-Organic and Covalent Organic Frameworks by Solid-Liquid Reaction: Ferrocene as the Versatile Function Unit

We report for the first time the construction of mechanoresponsive and redox-active metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) by anchoring ferrocene (Fc) pendants as mechanophores in the pore wall. This work outlines a simple, general, and low-cost route to tailor MOFs and COFs by a Fc unit for mechanoresponsive nature, the release of Fe ions, redox behavior, and modulation of the skeleton charge together.

Hexafluorosilicate anion in the formation of a coordination cage: anion competition

The construction of a coordination cage in a system of dual anions including hexafluorosilicate was investigated. Significant catalytic effects on catechol oxidation catalysis performance ranks among the most efficient yet recorded.

Physicochemical Properties and Photochemical Reactions in Organic Crystals

Background:

Molecular organic photochemistry is concerned with the description of physical and chemical processes generated upon the absorption of photons by organic molecules. Recently, it has become an important part of many areas of science: chemistry, biology, biochemistry, medicine, biophysics, material science, analytical chemistry, among others. Many synthetic chemists are using photochemical reactions in crystals to generate different types of organic compounds since this methodology represents a green chemistry approach.

Objective & Method:

Chemical reactions in crystals are quite different from reactions in solution. The range of organic solid state reactions and the degree of control which could be achieved under these conditions are quite wider and subtle. Therefore, for a large number of molecular crystals, the photochemical outcome is not the expected product based on topochemical principles. To explain these experimental results, several physicochemical factors in crystal structure have been proposed such as defects, reaction cavity, dynamic preformation or photoinduced lattice instability and steric compression control. In addition, several crystal engineering strategies have been developed to bring molecules into adequate orientations with reactive groups in good proximity to synthesize complex molecules that in many cases are not available by conventional methods. Some strategies involve structural modifications like intramolecular substitution with different functional groups to modify intermolecular interactions. Other strategies involve chemical techniques such as mixed crystal formation, charge transfer complexes, ionic and organometallic interactions. Furthermore, some examples of the single crystal to single crystal transformations have also been developed showing an elegant method to achieve regio and stereoselectivity in a photochemical reaction.

Conclusion:

The several examples given in this review paper have shown the wide scope of photochemical reactions in organic molecular crystals. There are several advantages of carrying photochemical reaction in the solid state. Production of materials unobtainable by the traditional solution phase reactions, improved specificity, reduction of impurities, and enhancement in the yields by the reduction of side reactions. These advantages and the multidisciplinary nature of solid-state photochemistry make this discipline quite likely to develop a lot in the future.

Water in zeolite L and its MOF mimic

Confinement of molecules in one dimensional arrays of channel-shaped cavities has led to technologically interesting materials. However, the interactions governing the supramolecular aggregates still remain obscure, even for the most common guest molecule: water. Herein, we use computational chemistry methods (#compchem) to study the water organization inside two different channel-type environments: zeolite L – a widely used matrix for inclusion of dye molecules, and ZLMOF – the closest metal-organic-framework mimic of zeolite L. In ZLMOF, the methyl groups of the ligands protrude inside the channels, creating nearly isolated nanocavities. These cavities host well-separated ring-shaped clusters of water molecules, dominated mainly by water-water hydrogen bonds. ZLMOF provides arrays of “isolated supramolecule” environments, which might be exploited for the individual confinement of small species with interesting optical or catalytic properties. In contrast, the one dimensional channels of zeolite L contain a continuous supramolecular structure, governed by the water interactions with potassium cations and by water-water hydrogen bonds. Water imparts a significant energetic stabilization to both materials, which increases with the water content in ZLMOF and follows the opposite trend in zeolite L. The water network in zeolite L contains an intriguing hypercoordinated structure, where a water molecule is surrounded by five strong hydrogen bonds. Such a structure, here described for the first time in zeolites, can be considered as a water pre-dissociation complex and might explain the experimentally detected high proton activity in zeolite L nanochannels.

Encapsulation of stilbazolium-type dyes into layered metal–organic frameworks: solvent-dependent luminescence chromisms and their mechanisms

Dye@Cd-LMOCs composites exhibit interesting solvent-dependent chromismic fluorescence, in which a two step solvent exchange process and a new electron transfer route are proposed.

Photoactive supramolecular cages incorporating Ru(ii) and Ir(iii) metal complexes

Cage compounds incorporating phosphorescent Ru(ii) and Ir(iii) metal complexes possess a highly desirable set of optoelectronic and physical properties. This feature article summarizes the recent work on cage assemblies containing these metal complexes as photoactive units, highlighting our contribution to this growing field.

Enhancing Hydrogen Generation Through Nanoconfinement of Sensitizers and Catalysts in a Homogeneous Supramolecular Organic Framework

Enrichment of molecular photosensitizers and catalysts in a confined nanospace is conducive for photocatalytic reactions due to improved photoexcited electron transfer from photosensitizers to catalysts. Herein, the self-assembly of a highly stable 3D supramolecular organic framework from a rigid bipyridine-derived tetrahedral monomer and cucurbit[8]uril in water, and its efficient and simultaneous intake of both [Ru(bpy)₃ ]²⁺ -based photosensitizers and various polyoxometalates, that can take place at very low loading, are reported. The enrichment substantially increases the apparent concentration of both photosensitizer and catalyst in the interior of the framework, which leads to a recyclable, homogeneous, visible light-driven photocatalytic system with 110-fold increase of the turnover number for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Supramolecular Organization in Confined Nanospaces

Empty spaces are abhorred by nature, which immediately rushes in to fill the void. Humans have learnt pretty well how to make ordered empty nanocontainers, and to get useful products out of them. When such an order is imparted to molecules, new properties may appear, often yielding advanced applications. This review illustrates how the organized void space inherently present in various materials: zeolites, clathrates, mesoporous silica/organosilica, and metal organic frameworks (MOF), for example, can be exploited to create confined, organized, and self-assembled supramolecular structures of low dimensionality. Features of the confining matrices relevant to organization are presented with special focus on molecular-level aspects. Selected examples of confined supramolecular assemblies - from small molecules to quantum dots or luminescent species - are aimed to show the complexity and potential of this approach. Natural confinement (minerals) and hyperconfinement (high pressure) provide further opportunities to understand and master the atomistic-level interactions governing supramolecular organization under nanospace restrictions.

Heterogeneous catalysis based on supramolecular association

Non-covalent assembly of individual components can develop a material with activity to promote the transformation of substrates into products.

Coordination polymer nanoparticles from nucleotide and lanthanide ions as a versatile platform for color-tunable luminescence and integrating Boolean logic operations

Novel supramolecular coordination polymer nanoparticles (CPNs) were synthesized via the self-assembly of guanosine monophosphate (GMP) and lanthanide ions (Ln³⁺, including Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Ce³⁺) in aqueous solution. These CPNs (GMP/Tb³⁺, GMP/Eu³⁺ and GMP/Ce³⁺) have an identical coordination environment but exhibit completely different luminescence properties responding to external stimuli such as dipicolinic acid (DPA), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), pH and metal ions, which has inspired us to tune the emission color of the CPNs and perform multiple logic operations. Firstly, color-tunable luminescence from red to green can be easily achieved by modulating the doping ratio of Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺ into GMP. Notably, trichromatic white light emitting CPNs can be successfully realized by simultaneously doping Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺ and Ce³⁺ into the host or just adjusting the pH of the solution. What's more, by employing GMP/Tb³⁺ CPNs as a logic operator, we have achieved the implementation of multilayered gate cascades (INH-INH, NOR-OR). When GMP/Eu³⁺ CPNs served as a logic operator, the logic elements can be integrated as another combinatorial gate (AND-INH). Moreover, by employing the red emission of Eu³⁺ and blue emission of GMP as the dual-output signal transducer, a set of parallel logic gates was established successfully. These results help elucidate the design rules by which simple logic can be integrated to construct cascaded logic gates and expand the applications of CPNs in light-emitting diode (LED) lamps and biological systems.

A sandwich-shaped M3L2 zinc(ii) complex containing 1,3,5-tris(dimethyl(pyridin-3-yl)silyl)benzene: selective photoluminescence recognition of diiodomethane

Self-assembly of Zn(ClO₄)₂ with 1,3,5-tris(dimethyl(pyridin-3-yl)silyl)benzene (L) as a new C₃-symmetric tridentate N-donor gives rise to a discrete sandwich-shaped M₃L₂ architecture, [Zn₃(μ-OH)₃L₂](ClO₄)₃·4CH₃CN·2H₂O. Its blue photoluminescence is significantly quenched only by CH₂I₂ among the various small molecules, CH₂Cl₂, CH₂Br₂, CHCl₃, 1,2-dichloroethane, EtOH, CH₃CN, benzene, toluene, and phenol.

Enantiomeric two-fold interpenetrated 3D zinc(ii) coordination networks as a catalytic platform: significant difference between water within the cage and trace water in transesterification

Self-assembly of Zn(ClO₄)₂ with 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-1,2-di(pyridin-3-yl)disilane (L) as a bidentate N-donor gives rise to 3D coordination networks, [Zn(μ-OH)(L)]₃(ClO₄)₃·5H₂O (1·5H₂O), of unique, 10³-a srs net topology. An important feature is that two enantiomeric 3D frameworks, 4¹- and 4³-[Zn(μ-OH)(L)]₃(ClO₄)₃·5H₂O, are interpenetrated to form a racemic two-fold 3D network with cages occupied by two water molecules. Another structural characteristic is a C₃-symmetric planar Zn₃(μ-OH)₃ 6-membered ring with tetrahedral Zn(ii) ions. The steric hindrance of substrates and trace water effects on transesterification catalysis using the network have been scrutinized. The coordination network acts as a remarkable heterogeneous transesterification catalytic system that shows both the significant steric effects of substrate alcohols and momentous water effects. The substrate activity is in the order ethanol > n-propanol > n-butanol > iso-propanol > 2-butanol > tert-butanol. For the reaction system, solvate water molecules within the cages of the interpenetrated 3D frameworks do not decrease the transesterification activity, whereas the trace water molecules in the substrate alcohols act as obvious obstacles to the reaction.

Photoswitching adsorption selectivity in a diarylethene–azobenzene MOF

The first photoactive MOF composed of both azobenzene and diarylethene units is reported and used to modulate adsorption selectivity via light.

Reversible photo/thermoswitchable dual-color fluorescence through single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation

A rare example of the insertion of a 1D polymer in a MOF using a light stimulus and subsequent characterization using single crystal X-ray diffraction is reported. An uncommon reversible photo/thermoswitchable dual-color green-to-blue fluorescence is observed.

Two 3D nonlinear optical and luminescent lanthanide-organic frameworks with multidirectional helical intersecting channels

Two chiral 3D lanthanide-organic frameworks with multidirectional helical intersecting channels, [Ln(Hpzc)(Hida)]_n were hydrothermally synthesized and characterized.