Understanding Cu(i) local environments in MOFs via63/65Cu NMR spectroscopy

The field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) includes a vast number of hybrid organic and inorganic porous materials with wide-ranging applications. In particular, the Cu(i) ion exhibits rich coordination chemistry in MOFs and can exist in two-, three-, and four-coordinate environments, which gives rise to many structural motifs and potential applications. Direct characterization of the structurally and chemically important Cu(i) local environments is essential for understanding the sources of specific MOF properties. For the first time, 63/65Cu solid-state NMR has been used to investigate a variety of Cu(i) sites and local coordination geometries in Cu MOFs. This approach is a sensitive probe of the local Cu environment, particularly when combined with density functional theory calculations. A wide range of structurally-dependent 63/65Cu NMR parameters have been observed, including 65Cu quadrupolar coupling constants ranging from 18.8 to 74.8 MHz. Using the data from this and prior studies, a correlation between Cu quadrupolar coupling constants, Cu coordination number, and local Cu coordination geometry has been established. Links between DFT-calculated and experimental Cu NMR parameters are also presented. Several case studies illustrate the feasibility of 63/65Cu NMR for investigating and resolving inequivalent Cu sites, monitoring MOF phase changes, interrogating the Cu oxidation number, and characterizing the product of a MOF chemical reaction involving Cu(ii) reduction to Cu(i). A convenient avenue to acquire accurate 65Cu NMR spectra and NMR parameters from Cu(i) MOFs at a widely accessible magnetic field of 9.4 T is described, with a demonstrated practical application for tracking Cu(i) coordination evolution during MOF anion exchange. This work showcases the power of 63/65Cu solid-state NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations for molecular-level characterization of Cu(i) centers in MOFs, along with the potential of this protocol for investigating a wide variety of MOF structural changes and processes important for practical applications. This approach has broad applications for examining Cu(i) centers in other weight-dilute systems.

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal properties of poly[[μ-1,2-bis-(pyridin-4-yl)ethene-κ2N:N'-μ-bromido-copper(I)] 1,2-bis-(pyridin-4-yl)ethene 0.25-solvate]

The reaction of copper(I) bromide with 1,2-bis-(pyridin-4-yl)ethene in aceto-nitrile leads to the formation of the title compound, {[CuBr(C12H10N2)]·0.25C12H10N2}n or CuBr(4-bpe)·0.25(4-bpe) [4-bpe = 1,2-bis-(pyridin-4-yl)ethene]. The asymmetric unit consists of one copper(I) cation and one bromide anion in general positions as well as two crystallographically independent half 4-bpe ligands and a quarter of a disordered 4-bpe solvate mol-ecule that are completed by centers of inversion. The copper(I) cations are tetra-hededrally coordinated as CuBr2N2 and linked by pairs of μ-1,1-bridging bromide anions into centrosymmetric dinuclear units that are further connected into layers by the 4-bpe coligands. Between the layers, inter-layer C-H⋯Br hydrogen bonding is observed. The layers are arranged in such a way that cavities are formed in which the disordered 4-bpe solvate mol-ecules are located. Powder X-ray (PXRD) investigations reveal that a pure sample has been obtained. Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermoanalysis (DTA) measurements show two mass losses that are accompanied by endothermic events in the DTA curve. The first mass loss correspond to the removal of 0.75 4-bpe mol-ecules, leading to the formation of (CuBr)2(4-bpe), already reported in the literature as proven by PXRD.

Tricarbonyl-Pyrazine-Molybdenum(0) Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Storage and Delivery of Biologically Active Carbon Monoxide

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have high potential as nanoplatforms for the storage and delivery of therapeutic gasotransmitters or gas-releasing molecules. The aim of the present study was to open an investigation into the viability of tricarbonyl-pyrazine-molybdenum(0) MOFs as carbon monoxide-releasing materials (CORMAs). A previous investigation found that the reaction of Mo(CO)₆ with excess pyrazine (pyz) in a sealed ampoule gave a mixture comprising a major triclinic phase with pyz-occupied hexagonal channels, formulated as fac-Mo(CO)₃(pyz)_3/2·1/2pyz (Mo-hex), and a minor dense cubic phase, formulated as fac-Mo(CO)₃(pyz)_3/2 (Mo-cub). In the present work, an open reflux method in toluene has been optimized for the large-scale synthesis of the pure Mo-cub phase. The crystalline solids Mo-hex and Mo-cub were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies, and ¹³C{¹H} cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The release of CO from the MOFs was studied by the deoxy-myoglobin (deoxy-Mb)/carbonmonoxy-myoglobin (MbCO) UV-vis assay. Mo-hex and Mo-cub release CO upon contact with a physiological buffer in the dark, delivering 0.35 and 0.22 equiv (based on Mo), respectively, after 24 h, with half-lives of 3-4 h. Both materials display high photostability such that the CO-releasing kinetics is not affected by irradiation of the materials with UV light. These materials are attractive as potential CORMAs due to the slow release of a high CO payload. In the solid-state and under open air, Mo-cub underwent almost complete decarbonylation over a period of 4 days, corresponding to a theoretical CO release of 10 mmol per gram of material.

Facile method to disperse nonporous metal organic frameworks: composite formation with a porous metal organic framework and application in adsorptive desulfurization

It is generally not easy to utilize nonporous metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with a large crystal size (especially for catalysis or adsorption) because their surface area is low and the majority of the active sites exist inside the MOFs. Composing with porous materials may be one way to disperse the nonporous materials. In this study, a nonporous/nonsoluble MOF (in which the particle size was much larger than the cavity size of the porous MOFs) containing Cu(I) ((Cu2(pyz)2(SO4)(H2O)2)n, denoted as CP) was composed with typical porous MOFs such as MIL100(Fe) (iron-benzenetricarboxylate) and CuBTC (cupper-benzenetricarboxylate). The Cu(I) species of the nonporous MOF was effectively utilized for the adsorptive desulfurization (ADS) of model fuel. Even though the porosities of the composed MOFs decreased as the content of CP increased, the adsorption capacity increased as the content of CP increased (up to a certain content). Considering the negligible capacity of CP for ADS, the enhanced adsorption capacity may be a result of the well-dispersed Cu(I), which is known to be beneficial for ADS via π-complexation. The dispersed CP was also observed by transmission electron microscopy mapping. Therefore, composing a nonporous MOF with porous MOF is a new and facile way to disperse/utilize the active sites of a nonporous MOF.

Five diverse bivalent metal coordination polymers based on benzene dicarboxylate and bent dipyridyl ligands: syntheses, structures, and photoluminescent properties

Five divalent metal coordination polymers based on two different azine based bent N,N′-donor ligand and 1,4-benzene dicarboxylate were synthesized and characterized.

A hexanuclear Cu(i) cluster supported by cuprophilic interaction: effects of aromatics on luminescence properties

A highly luminescent hexanuclear Cu(i) cluster was synthesized using a tricarboxylate linker. The flexibility in the linker renders Cu(i)–Cu(i) interactions that results in unique cluster centred emission properties.

Occurrence and Chemistry of Dihydroxyfumaric Acid

The paper summarizes literature data on occurrence of dihydroxyfumaric acid and its role in biological systems, as well as its chemical properties.