Synthesis and Structural Characterization of the Tetranuclear Iron(Iii) Cluster with Salicylic Acid

A new tetra-homonuclear iron(III) cluster, [Fe4O2(Sal)4(H2O)6]·4DMA·0.75H2O, where Sal= salicylic acid and DMA= N,N-dimethylacetamide consolidated via two µ3-oxo- and four salicylate-bridges was synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopic method as well as by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structure of the obtained tetranuclear compound consists of four FeIII atoms in a “butterfly” arrangement. The coordination sphere of each of the two central FeIII atoms is generated by two μ3-oxo-bridging atoms and four oxygen atoms provided by the tridentate-bridging Sal2- ligands, while the coordination polyhedron of another two iron atoms involve six oxygen atoms from three water molecules, two salicylic and one μ3-oxigen atom. The Fe-O distances within Fe-O-Fe bridge are of 2.102(3) Å (for wing-body) and 2.038(3) Å (for body-body).

{Ni4} Cubanes from enantiomerically pure 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine ligands: supramolecular chirality

Homometallic {NiII4} cubane-like clusters with a rare chiral core have been prepared via the employment of enantiomerically pure 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)pyridine (Hmpm). Comparison with the achiral cubanes derived from the related 2-pyridinemethanol (Hpym) ligand reveals drastic structural changes as a consequence of the transfer of chirality from the ligands to the whole structure. Their magnetic properties have been related to the structural features of their cubane-type cores.

Tetranuclear cobalt(ii)-isonicotinic acid frameworks: selective CO2 capture, magnetic properties, and derived "Co3O4" exhibiting high performance in lithium ion batteries

Two new 3D cobalt metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), [Co4(CH3COO)(in)5(μ3-OH)2]·2H2O (1) and [Co4(SO4)2(in)4(DMF)2]·3DMF (2) (Hin = isonicotinic acid), have been prepared through the anion template method. Compound 1 consists of rare odd-number connected (9-connected) cubane-like SBUs, while compound 2 consists of 8-connected high-symmetry square-planar clusters. Magnetic studies indicate that compound 1 exhibits spin-canting antiferromagnetic ordering, while compound 2 shows antiferromagnetic behavior. At 273 K and 1 bar, compound 1 exhibits a high CO2 selectivity over CH4 and a significant CO2 uptake of 13.6 wt%, which is higher than that of 2 (8.5 wt%). Furthermore, compound 1 was then transformed into ultrasmall Co3O4 nanoparticles via simple but effective annealing treatment. Electrochemical measurements show that the Co3O4 nanospheres derived from compound 1 exhibited high and stable lithium storage properties (1100 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g-1) and excellent rate capabilities.

Chemical reaction within a compact non-porous crystal containing molecular clusters without the loss of crystallinity

A yellow crystal with {FeII4O₄} cubes is modified to a black crystal with {FeIII4O₄} cubes via a SC–SC transformation.

The very rare occurrence of a gas–solid chemical reaction has been found to take place on a molecule within a compact non-porous crystal without destroying its long-range structural order and retaining similar crystal structures when yellow crystals of FeII4(mbm)₄Cl₄(MeOH)₄ were exposed to air to give black [FeIII4(mbm)₄Cl₄(OH)₄]·2H₂O. The latter cannot be synthesised directly. The original cluster underwent an exchange of methanol to hydroxide, an oxidation of Fe(ii) to Fe(iii), a change in stereochemistry and hydration while the packing and space-group remained unaltered.

Two novel lead(II) complexes of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine: a threefold diamondoid supramolecular network based on Pb4O4 cores and a two-dimensional (4,4) network based on Pb2O2 units

Reactions of 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (Hhmp) with PbCl2 and Pb(NO3)2 at room temperature led to the formation of two novel compounds, namely tetrakis[μ3-(pyridin-2-yl)methanolato]-tetrahedro-tetrakis[chloridolead(II)], [Pb4(C6H6NO)4Cl4], (I), and poly[(μ2-nitrato)[μ2-(pyridin-2-yl)methanolato]lead(II)], [Pb(C6H6NO)(NO3)]n, (II). Compound (I) exhibits a tetranuclear Pb4O4 cubane structure, which is connected through π-π stacking interactions between the pyridine groups of the (pyridin-2-yl)methanolate (hmp(-)) ligands and through C-H···Cl interactions to form an interesting threefold diamondoid network. Compound (II) possesses two-dimensional (4,4)-sql topology based on a Pb2O2 unit, which is further extended into a three-dimensional supramolecular network through π-π stacking interactions between adjacent pyridine rings and through C-H···O interactions between the pyridine C atoms of the hmp(-) ligands and the nitrate anions.