Platonic and Archimedean solids in discrete metal-containing clusters

Metal-containing clusters have attracted increasing attention over the past 2-3 decades. This intense interest can be attributed to the fact that these discrete metal aggregates, whose atomically precise structures are resolved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), often possess intriguing geometrical features (high symmetry, aesthetically pleasing shapes and architectures) and fascinating physical properties, providing invaluable opportunities for the intersection of different disciplines including chemistry, physics, mathematical geometry and materials science. In this review, we attempt to reinterpret and connect these fascinating clusters from the perspective of Platonic and Archimedean solid characteristics, focusing on highly symmetrical and complex metal-containing (metal = Al, Ti, V, Mo, W, U, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, lanthanoids (Ln), and actinoids) high-nuclearity clusters, including metal-oxo/hydroxide/chalcogenide clusters and metal clusters (with metal-metal binding) protected by surface organic ligands, such as thiolate, phosphine, alkynyl, carbonyl and nitrogen/oxygen donor ligands. Furthermore, we present the symmetrical beauty of metal cluster structures and the geometrical similarity of different types of clusters and provide a large number of examples to show how to accurately describe the metal clusters from the perspective of highly symmetrical polyhedra. Finally, knowledge and further insights into the design and synthesis of unknown metal clusters are put forward by summarizing these "star" molecules.

Coordination chemistry and applications of versatile 4,5-diazafluorene derivatives

This review article highlights the versatile nature of 4,5-diazafluorene derivatives as ligands, and details some recent advances made using this ligand family.

A stepwise approach to the formation of heterometallic discrete complexes and infinite architectures

A strategy for the controlled construction of heterobimetallic discrete complexes and 1-D coordination networks is presented. The organic ligand based on the methanedithiolate group and the 4,5-diazafluorene moiety behaving as primary and secondary coordination poles respectively leads to the formation of a series of discrete metal complexes with various geometries via binding through the dithiolate site. The observed coordination geometries range from square-planar for Ni(ii) and Pd(ii) to distorted tetrahedral for Zn(ii) and Hg(ii). The square-planar Pd(ii) complex affords a discrete bimetallic trinuclear complex when treated with a capped Ni(ii) center. All three Ni(ii), Pd(ii) and Hg(ii) discrete complexes have been also shown to behave as metallatectons leading to the generation of infinite networks in the presence of bridging cations such as sodium.