Inorganic Molecular Complexes: Potential for Growth of a New Subject Area in Self-Assembly

The non-covalent assemblies among multiple non-identical metal complexes have scopes to develop a new subject area. There are infinite numbers of ways for different combinations among inorganic neutral or ionic complexes. Each partnering species of those molecular complexes would also have diversities by changing metal ions, ligands, oxidation states of metal ions, and coordination numbers. Keeping a view of the emergence of framework materials and self-assembled nano-structures of metal complexes, the non-covalently linked assemblies of inorganic molecular complexes would have scopes for new nano-dimensional materials. This account provides a systematic description of the different inorganic molecular complexes for a concerted effort to develop a new area that would have importance in applied materials.

Weak interactions cause selective cocrystal formation of lanthanide nitrates and tetra-2-pyridinylpyrazine

Two series of cocrystals Ln(NO₃)₅·H₂TPPZ are synthesized enlightening the lanthanide contraction effect and weak hydrogen bonding interactions in determining the selective cocrystallization, stability and energy transfer for luminescence.

Two new two-dimensional coordination polymers based on isophthalate and a flexible N-donor ligand containing benzimidazole and pyridine rings: synthesis, crystal structures and a solid-state UV-Vis study

In coordination chemistry and crystal engineering, many factors influence the construction of coordination polymers and the final frameworks depend greatly on the organic ligands used. N-Donor ligands with diverse coordination modes and conformations have been employed to assemble metal-organic frameworks. Carboxylic acid ligands can deprotonate completely or partially when bonding to metal ions and can also act as donors or acceptors of hydrogen bonds and are thus good candidates for the construction of supramolecular architectures. Two new transition metal complexes, namely poly[diaqua(μ₄-1,4-bis{[1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-1H-benz[d]imidazol-2-yl]methoxy}benzene)bis(μ₂-isophthalato)dicobalt(II)], [Co(C₈H₄O₄)(C₃₄H₂₈N₆O₂)_0.5(H₂O)]_n, (1), and poly[diaqua(μ₄-1,4-bis{[1-(pyridin-3-ylmethyl)-1H-benz[d]imidazol-2-yl]methoxy}benzene)bis(μ₂-isophthalato)dicadmium(II)], [Cd(C₈H₄O₄)(C₃₄H₂₈N₆O₂)_0.5(H₂O)]_n, have been constructed using a symmetric N-donor ligand and a carboxylate ligand under hydrothermal conditions. X-ray crystallographic studies reveal that complexes (1) and (2) are isostructural, both of them exhibiting three-dimensional supramolecular architectures built by hydrogen bonds in which the coordinated water molecules serve as donors, while the O atoms of the carboxylate groups act as acceptors. Furthermore, (1) and (2) have been characterized by elemental, IR spectroscopic, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermogravimetric analyses. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of complex (1) has also been investigated.