Octacyanidometallates for multifunctional molecule-based materials

Octacyanidometallates have been successfully employed in the design of heterometallic coordination systems offering a spectacular range of desired physical properties with great potential for technological applications. The [M(CN)8]n- ions comprise a series of complexes of heavy transition metals in high oxidation states, including NbIV, MoIV/V, WIV/V, and ReV. Since the discovery of the pioneering bimetallic {MnII4[MIV(CN)8]2} and {MnII9[MV(CN)8]6} (M = Mo, W) molecules in 2000, octacyanidometallates were fruitfully explored as precursors for the construction of diverse d-d or d-f coordination clusters and frameworks which could be obtained in the crystalline form under mild synthetic conditions. The primary interest in [M(CN)8]n--based networks was focused on their application as molecule-based magnets exhibiting long-range magnetic ordering resulting from the efficient intermetallic exchange coupling mediated by cyanido bridges. However, in the last few years, octacyanidometallate-based materials proved to offer varied and remarkable functionalities, becoming efficient building blocks for the construction of molecular nanomagnets, magnetic coolers, spin transition materials, photomagnets, solvato-magnetic materials, including molecular magnetic sponges, luminescent magnets, chiral magnets and photomagnets, SHG-active magnetic materials, pyro- and ferroelectrics, ionic conductors as well as electrochemical containers. Some of these materials can be processed into the nanoscale opening the route towards the development of magnetic, optical and electronic devices. In this review, we summarise all important achievements in the field of octacyanidometallate-based functional materials, with the particular attention to the most recent advances, and present a thorough discussion on non-trivial structural and electronic features of [M(CN)8]n- ions, which are purposefully explored to introduce desired physical properties and their combinations towards advanced multifunctional materials.

In situ formed [M(CN)9] (M = W, Mo) as a building block for the construction of two nona-cyanometalate-bridged heterometallic coordination polymers

Two 3D cyano-bridged coordination polymers are constructed from in situ generated nona-cyanometalate [M(CN)₉] (M = W, Mo) connected dpo ligands and Mn ions.

Cyanide vs. azide “magnetic arm wrestling”: MnII–NbIV and MnII–MoIV magnetic coordination polymers with mixed bridging

The magnetic coupling abilities of cyanide and azide are put to the test within an unprecedented cyanide–azide bimetallic coordination polymer. The resulting non-trivial magnetic behavior suggests a non-collinear magnetic structure arising from the competing antiferromagnetic interactions through the cyanide and azide.

A new family of [CuIILnIIIMV] heterotrimetallic complexes (Ln = La, Gd, Tb; M = Mo, W): model systems to probe exchange interactions and single-molecule magnet properties

Four 3d–4f–4(5)d heterotrimetallic complexes, [L²CuLn(H₂O)₅(μ-NC)M(CN)₇], were obtained from the association of the binuclear 3d–4f complexes and {M^V(CN)₈}³⁻ metalloligands.