From individuals to families: design and application of self-similar chiral nanomaterials

Establishing an intimate relationship between similar individuals is the beginning of self-extension. Various self-similar chiral nanomaterials can be designed using an individual-to-family approach, accomplishing self-extension. This self-similarity facilitates chiral communication, transmission, and amplification of synthons. We focus on describing the marriage of discrete cages to develop self-similar extended frameworks. The advantages of utilizing cage-based frameworks for chiral recognition, enantioseparation, chiral catalysis and sensing are highlighted. To further promote self-extension, fractal chiral nanomaterials with self-similar and iterated architectures have attracted tremendous attention. The beauty of a fractal family tree lies in its ability to capture the complexity and interconnectedness of a family's lineage. As a type of fractal material, nanoflowers possess an overarching importance in chiral amplification due to their large surface-to-volume ratio. This review summarizes the design and application of state-of-the-art self-similar chiral nanomaterials including cage-based extended frameworks, fractal nanomaterials, and nanoflowers. We hope this formation process from individuals to families will inherit and broaden this great chirality.

New Carboxylate Anionic Sm-MOF: Synthesis, Structure and Effect of the Isomorphic Substitution of Sm3+ with Gd3+ and Tb3+ Ions on the Luminescent Properties

Two new compounds, namely {(NMe2H2)}[Ln(TDA)(HCOO)] 0.5H2O, Ln = Sm3+ (Sm-TDA) and Gd3+ (Gd-TDA), where TDA3− is the anion of 1H-1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid (H3TDA), were synthesized by the solvothermal method in a DMF:H2O mixture. According to single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, the compounds are 3d-MOFs with an anionic lattice and dimethylammonium cations occupying part of the cavities. Based on these compounds, two series of mixed-metal complexes, [NMe2H2][SmxLn1-x(TDA)(HCOO)], (x = 0.9 (Sm0.9Ln0.1-TDA), x = 0.8 (Sm0.8-Ln0.2-TDA)…Sm0.02Ln0.98-TDA, Ln = Tb, Gd), were also obtained and characterized by powder XRD. The luminescent properties of the compounds were studied and it was shown that the resulting compounds are two- or three-component emitters with the possibility of fine color tuning by changing the intensities of fluorescence and phosphorescence of the ligand, as well as the luminescence of Sm3+ and Tb3+ f-ions.

Synthesis and crystal structures of two coordination polymers and a binuclear cadmium(II) complex containing 3- and 4-aminobenzoate ligands

Due to their wide range of coordination modes and versatile conformations when binding to metal atoms, multicarboxylate ligands are of interest in the design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Three Cd(II) complexes, namely catena-poly[diammonium [[chloridocadmium(II)]-di-μ-chlorido-[chloridocadmium(II)]-bis(μ-3-aminobenzoato)-κ(3)N:O,O';κ(3)O,O':N]], {(NH4)[CdCl2(C7H6NO2)]}n, (I), catena-poly[[[aquacadmium(II)]-bis(μ-4-aminobenzoato)-κ(3)N:O,O';κ(3)O,O':N] monohydrate], {[Cd(C7H6NO2)2(H2O)]·H2O}n, (II), and di-μ-acetato-κ(4)O:O'-bis[(4-aminobenzoato-κ(2)O,O')(2,2'-bipyridine-κ(2)N,N')cadmium(II)], [Cd2(CH3COO)2(C7H6NO2)2(C10H8N2)2], (III), with different stuctural forms are reported. Complex (I) has a one-dimensional ladder structure, with strong N-H···O and weak N-H···Cl hydrogen bonds linking the cations and anions in the three-dimensional supramolecular structure. Complex (II) has a one-dimensional chain structure. Extensive O-H···O and N-H···O hydrogen bonds between the anionic ligands and the solvent water molecules and π-π stacking interactions between the centroids of the benzene rings lead to the three-dimensional supramolecular structure. Complex (III) is a binuclear molecule which is extended into a three-dimensional supramolecular structure via strong N-H···O and weak C-H···O hydrogen bonds.

Luminescent multifunctional lanthanides-based metal-organic frameworks

Metal-organic frameworks based on trivalent lanthanides (LnMOFs) are a very promising class of materials for addressing the challenges in engineering of luminescent centres. Lanthanide-bearing phosphors find numerous applications in lighting, optical communications, photonics and biomedical devices. In this critical review we discuss the potential of LnMOFs as multifunctional systems, which combine light emission with properties such as microporosity, magnetism, chirality, molecule and ion sensing, catalysis and activity as multimodal imaging contrast agents. We argue that these materials present a unique chance of observing synergy between several of these properties, such as the coupling between photoluminescence and magnetism. Moreover, an integrated approach towards the design of efficient, stable, cheap, environmentally-friendly and multifunctional luminescent LnMOFs is still missing. Although research into LnMOFs is at its early stage and much basic knowledge is still needed, the field is ripe for new ideas, which will enable sensor devices and photonic prototypes to become a commercial reality (81 references).