Solution state coordination polymers featuring wormlike macroscopic structures and cage–polymer interconversions

The chemistry of phosphines in constrained, well-defined microenvironments

Developments in the confinement of phosphines within micro- or nano-environments are explored. Phosphines are ubiquitous across metal coordination chemistry and underpin some of the most famous homogeneous transition metal catalysts. Constraining phosphines within confined environments influences not only their behaviour but also that of their metal complexes. Notable examples include the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or metal-organic cages (MOCs) to support phosphines which demonstrate how the microenvironment within such constructs leads to reactivity modification. The development of phosphine confinement is explored and parallels are drawn with related constrained macrocyclic systems and mechanically interlocked molecules. The review concludes by identifying areas that remain a challenge and those that will provide new avenues for research.

A luminescent silver–phosphine tetragonal cage based on tetraphenylethylene

A phosphine-based tetragonal cage emits strong fluorescence both in dilute solutions and in aggregated states, showing response towards anions/olefin compounds.

Metal-driven assembly of peptidic foldamers: formation of molecular tapes

Supramolecular structures are formed by the self-assembly of a peptidic foldamer with silver cations. The conformation of the peptide is preserved in the metal–organic fibres.

Self-Assembled Cyclophane-Type Copper(I) Complexes of 2,4,6-Tris(diphenylphosphino)-1,3,5-triazine and Their Catalytic Application

The triazine-based trisphosphine, 2,4,6-tris(diphenylphosphino)-1,3,5-triazine (1) was prepared in improved yield by reacting cyanuric chloride with 3 equiv of trimethylsilyldiphenylphosphine. The solid-state structure of 1 showed short intermolecular P···P contacts of 3.362 Å, which is significantly shorter than the sum of the van der Waals radii of phosphorus atoms (3.6 Å). The reaction of 2,4,6-tris(diphenylphosphino)-1,3,5-triazine (1) with copper(I) salts in a 2:3 molar ratio yielded various cyclophane-type complexes in quantitative yield. The solid-state structures of these clusters have been found to depend on the size of the halide ions, the solvent employed, and the reaction conditions. Copper(I) chloride formed a monomeric metallocyclophane, whereas copper(I) bromide and copper(I) iodide derivatives preferred dimeric and 1D-polymeric structures, respectively. The tricationic complexes derived from Cu(I) ion and 2,4,6-tris(diphenylphosphino)-1,3,5-triazine also adopted monomeric metallocyclophane structures. These complexes have been employed in the A(3) coupling reaction under microwave irradiation. The copper(I) iodide derivative showed excellent catalytic efficiency.

One-dimensional silver(i) coordination polymers containing cyclodiphosphazane, cis-{(o-MeOC6H4O)P(µ-NtBu)}2

The 1:1 reaction between the cyclodiphosphazane cis-{(o-MeOC(6)H(4)O)P(mu-N(t)Bu)}(2) (1) and AgOTf afforded one-dimensional Ag(I) coordination polymer [Ag{mu-OTf-kappaO,kappaO}{mu-(o-MeOC(6)H(4)O)P(mu-N(t)Bu)-kappaP,kappaP}(2)](infinity) (2) containing bridging cyclodiphosphazane and trifluoromethanesulfonate (OTf) ligands. The 2:1 reaction of and AgOTf leads to the formation of simple mononuclear complex [Ag{OTf-kappaO,kappaO}({(o-MeOC(6)H(4)O)P(mu-N(t)Bu)-kappaP}(2))(2)] (3) in quantitative yield. Reaction of 1 with AgCN produces a strain-free zig-zag coordination polymer [({(o-MeOC(6)H(4)O)P(mu-N(t)Bu)-kappaP,kappaP}(2))(2)Ag(NCAgCN)](infinity) (4) irrespective of reaction stoichiometry and conditions. In complexes 3 and 4 cyclodiphosphazanes coordinate to Ag(I) centers in a monodentate fashion. Single crystal structures were established for the Ag(I) polymers 2 and 4.

Coordination polymer gels: synthesis, structure and mechanical properties of amorphous coordination polymers

The synthesis and mechanical properties of a new class of coordination polymer based materials, amorphous coordination polymer sol-gels and xerogels, is presented.