Structures and magnetism of two novel heptanuclear lanthanide-centered trigonal prismatic clusters: [LnCu6(mu 3-OH)3(HL)2(L)4](ClO4)2.25H2O (Ln = La, Tb; H2L = iminodiacetic acid)

Tuning Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation Activity: Insights from the Active-Site Distance in LnCu6 Clusters

Atomically precise metal clusters serve as a unique model for unraveling the intricate mechanism of the catalytic reaction and exploring the complex relationship between structure and activity. Herein, three series of water-soluble heterometallic clusters LnCu6, abbreviated as LnCu6-AC (Ln = La, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb; HAC = acetic acid), LnCu6-IM (Ln = La and Nd; IM = Imidazole), and LnCu6-IDA (Ln = Nd; H2IDA = Iminodiacetic acid) are presented, each featuring a uniform metallic core stabilized by distinct protected ligands. Crystal structure analysis reveals a triangular prism topology formed by six Cu2+ ions around one Ln3+ ion in LnCu6, with variations in Cu···Cu distances attributed to different ligands. Electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) shows that these different LnCu6 clusters exhibit different OER activities with remarkable turnover frequency of 135 s-1 for NdCu6-AC, 79 s-1 for NdCu6-IM and 32 s-1 for NdCu6-IDA. Structural analysis and Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations underscore the correlation between shorter Cu···Cu distances and improves OER catalytic activity, emphasizing the pivotal role of active-site distance in regulating electrocatalytic OER activities. These results provide valuable insights into the OER mechanism and contribute to the design of efficient homogeneous OER electrocatalysts.

Syntheses, Structures, and Properties of High-Nuclear 3d−4f Clusters with Amino Acid as Ligand: {Gd6Cu24}, {Tb6Cu26}, and {(Ln6Cu24)2Cu} (Ln= Sm, Gd)

Four novel high-nuclear 3d-4f heterometallic clusters were obtained through the self-assembly of Ln(III), Cu(II), and amino acid ligands (2-methylalanine (mAla), glycine (Gly), and L-proline (Pro), respectively). The metal skeleton of cluster 1, [Gd6Cu24(mu3-OH)30(mAla)16(ClO4)(H2O)22].(ClO4)17.(OH)2.(H2O)2(0), may be described as a huge {Gd6Cu12} octahedron connected with 12 additional Cu(II) ions. The structure of cluster 2, Na4[Tb6Cu26(mu3-OH)30(Gly)18(ClO4)(H2O)22].(ClO4)25.(H2O)42, may be described as a {Tb6Cu24} main structure connected with two [Cu(Gly)(H2O)2]+ groups. Compounds {[Ln6Cu24(mu3-OH)30(Pro)12(Ac)6(ClO4)(H2O)13]2Cu(Pro)2}.(ClO4)18.(OH)16.(H2O)55 (Ln= Sm (3), Gd (4)) are 61-nuclear clusters, which represent the largest known 3d-4f clusters so far, the structure can be described as two {Ln6Cu24} octahedral units connected by a trans-Cu(proline)2 bridge. The electrical conductivity measurements reveal that they are temperature-sensitive semiconductors. The magnetic susceptibility measurements display that compound 4 is ferromagnetic.

A series of trinuclear Cu(II)Ln(III)Cu(II) complexes derived from 2,6-Di(acetoacetyl)pyridine: synthesis, structure, and magnetism

A series of trinuclear Cu(II)Ln(III)Cu(II) complexes with the bridging ligand 2,6-di(acetoacetyl)pyridine have been prepared by one-pot reaction with Cu(NO(3))(2).3H(2)O and Ln(NO(3))(3).nH(2)O in methanol. X-ray crystallographic studies for all the complexes indicate that two L(2)(-) ligands selectively sandwich two Cu(II) ions with the 1,3-diketonate entities and one Ln(III) ion with the 2,6-acetylpyridine entity to form a trinuclear CuLnCu core bridged by the enolate oxygen atoms. Cryomagnetic properties of the complexes are studied with respect to the electronic structure of the Ln ion.

Heterotrimetallic 4f−3d Coordination Polymers: Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Magnetic Properties

A series of cyano-bridged heterotrimetallic complexes [CuL](2)Ln(H(2)O)(2)M(CN)(6).7H(2)O have been synthesized by the reactions of CuL (L(2)(-) = dianion of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotradecane-2,3-dione), Ln(3+) (Ln = Gd or La), and [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) (M = Co, Fe, or Cr). X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that these complexes are isostructural and have a novel chain structure. The Ln(3+) ion is eight-coordinated by six oxygen atoms of two CuL and two water molecules and two nitrogen atoms of the bridging cyano ligands of two [M(CN)(6)](3)(-), while the [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) anion connects two Ln(3+) using two trans-CN(-) ligands giving rise to a chainlike structure. In the chain, every CuL group tilts toward the CN(-) ligand of adjacent [M(CN)(6)](3)(-) with the Cu-N(cyano) contacts ranging from 2.864(6) to 2.930(6) A. Magnetic studies on the CuGdCo complex (1) indicate the presence of ferromagnetic coupling between Cu(II) and Gd(III). The CuLaCr (5) and CuLaFe (2) complexes exhibit ferromagnetic interaction between paramagnetic Cu(II) and Cr(III)/Fe(III) ions through the weak cyano bridges (Cu-N(cyano) = 2.930(6) A for 2). A global ferromagnetic interaction is operative in the CuGdFe complex (3) with the concurrence of dominant ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Gd(III) and minor antiferromagnetic Gd(III)-Fe(III) as well as the ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Fe(III) interaction. For the CuGdCr complex (4), an overall antiferromagnetic behavior was observed, which is attributed to the presence of dominant antiferromagnetic Cr(III)-Gd(III) coupling and the minor ferromagnetic Cu(II)-Gd(III) and Cu(II)-Cr(III) interaction. Moreover, a spin frustration phenomenon was found in complex 4, which results from the ferro-ferro-antiferromagnetic exchanges in the trigonal Cu-Gd-Cr units. The magnetic susceptibilities of these complexes were simulated using suitable models. The magneto-structural correlation was investigated. These complexes did not show a magnetic phase transition down to 1.8 K.

Structure-Based Description of a Step-by-Step Synthesis of Homo- and Heterodinuclear (4f, 4f ‘) Lanthanide Complexes

The stepwise course of the synthesis of homo- (4f, 4f) and heterodilanthanide (4f, 4f ') complexes has been investigated through structural determination of the intermediate and final products occurring in the process. In the first step, the tripodal ligand H(3)L is reacted with Ln(NO(3))(3) x 5H(2)O to give a complex (H(3)L)Ln(NO(3))(3) in which the ligand does exist in a zwitterionic form. This unexpected feature has been definitely supported by a structural determination performed on a closely related complex (HL')(3)Ln(NO(3))(3) (1). These species are fairly stable and may be isolated. In basic medium, (H(3)L)Ln(NO(3))(3) is deprotonated to yield a neutral LLn complex crystallized as LLnNaClO(4) (2), the lanthanide ion being linked to the inner N(4)O(3) coordination site of the ligand. Finally, addition of Ln'(NO(3))(3) x 5H(2)O (Ln' being similar or different from Ln) to the LLn complex yields the desired homo- or heterodinuclear LLnLn'(NO(3))(3) complex 3, where the Ln' ion is coordinated to the outer O(3)O(3) coordination site of the tripodal ligand. Complex 1 (Ln = La) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (No. 2): a = 11.1883(7) A, b = 11.8993(9) A, c = 16.4197(10) A, alpha = 81.900 (6) degrees, beta = 79.406(5) degrees, gamma = 79.470(6) degrees, V = 2099.5(2) A(3), Z = 2. Complex 2 (Ln = Eu) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n (No. 14): a = 13.6333(13) A, b = 15.3799(12) A, c = 17.1473(13) A, beta = 111.283(10) degrees, V = 3350.2(5) A(3), Z = 4. Complex 3 (Ln = Ln' = Dy) crystallizes in the trigonal space group R3 (No. 148) with a = b = 23.847(3) A, c = 42.982(2) A, V = 21168(4) A(3), Z = 18. Complex 3 possesses a Dy(O(phenoxo))(3)Dy core, and a nitrato anion has been replaced by a eta(2)-chelated o-vanillin anion. We did not succeed in obtaining crystals of any of the heterodinuclear LLnLn'(NO(3))(3) entities, but their existence was unambiguously confirmed by positive fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry experiments.