Crystal structures of two Co(NCS)2 urotropine coordination compounds with different Co coordinations

The reaction of Co(NCS)2 with urotropine in ethanol leads to the formation of two different compounds, namely, bis-(ethanol-κO)bis-(hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine-κN)bis-(thio-cyanato-κN)cobalt(II)-di-aqua-κ 2O-bis-(hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine-κN)bis-(thio-cyanato-κN)cobalt(II)-ethanol-hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine (1.2/0.8/1.6/4), [Co(NCS)2(C6H12N4)2(C2H6O)2]1.2·[Co(NCS)2(C6H12N4)2(H2O)2]0.8·1.6C2H6O·4C6H12N4, 1, and tris-(ethanol-κO)(hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine-κN)bis(thio-cyanato-κN)cobalt(II), [Co(NCS)2(C6H12N4)(C2H6O)3], 2. In the crystal structure of compound 1, two crystallographically independent discrete complexes are observed that are located on centres of inversion. In one of them, the Co cation is octa-hedrally coordinated to two terminal N-bonded thio-cyanate anions, two urotropine ligands and two ethanol mol-ecules, whereas in the second complex 80% of the coordinating ethanol is exchanged by water. Formally, compound 1 is a mixture of two different complexes, i.e. di-aqua-dithio-cyanato-bis-(urotropine)cobalt(II) and di-ethano-ldi-thio-cyanato-bis-(uro-trop-ine)cobalt(II), that contain additional ethanol and urotropine solvate mol-ecules leading to an overall composition of [Co(NCS)2(urotropine)2(ethanol)1.2(H2O)0.8·0.8ethanol·4urotropine. Both discrete complexes are linked by inter-molecular O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen bonding and additional urotropine solvate mol-ecules into chains, which are further connected into layers. These layers combine into a three-dimensional network by pairs of centrosymmetric inter-molecular C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds. In the crystal structure of compound 2, di-thio-cyanato-(urotropine)tri-ethano-lcobalt(II), the cobalt cation is octa-hedrally coordinated to two terminal N-bonded thio-cyanate anions, one urotropine ligand and three ethanol mol-ecules into discrete complexes, which are located in general positions. These complexes are linked by inter-molecular O-H⋯N hydrogen bonding into layers, which are further connected into a three-dimensional network by inter-molecular C-H⋯S hydrogen bonding.

Synthesis and crystal structure of di-aqua-bis-(hexa-methyl-enetramine-κN)bis-(thio-cyanato-κN)cobalt(II)-hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine-aceto-nitrile (1/2/2)

The crystal structure of the title solvated coordination compound, [Co(NCS)2(C6H12N4)2(H2O)2]·2C6H12N4·2C2H3N, consists of discrete complexes in which the Co2+ cations (site symmetry ) are sixfold coordinated by two N-bonded thio-cyanate anions, two water mol-ecules and two hexa-methyl-ene-tetra-mine (HMT) mol-ecules to generate distorted trans-CoN4O2 octa-hedra. The discrete complexes are each connected by two HMT solvate mol-ecules into chains via strong O-H⋯N hydrogen bonds. These chains are further linked by additional O-H⋯N and C-H⋯N and C-H⋯S hydrogen bonds into a three-dimensional network. Within this network, channels are formed that propagate along the c-axis direction and in which additional aceto-nitrile solvent mol-ecules are embedded, which are hydrogen bonded to the network. The CN stretching vibration of the thio-cyanate ion occurs at 2062 cm-1, which is in agreement with the presence of N-bonded anionic ligands. XRPD investigations prove the formation of the title compound as the major phase accompanied by a small amount of a second unknown phase.

Humidity-Induced Structural Transformation in Pseudopolymorph Coordination Polymers

Three cadmium coordination polymers, namely, {[CdL(OAc)₂](C₂H₅OH)}_n (1), {[CdL(OAc)₂](CH₃CN)}_n (2), and [CdL(OAc)₂(H₂O)]_n (3), were synthesized by an exoditopic 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene Schiff base ligand (L) and cadmium acetate in the presence of different solvent systems. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis showed that 1D ladder pseudopolymorphic compounds (1 and 2) transformed to the solvent-free 1D linear compound 3 through a rare case of water absorption from air at room temperature. Interestingly, compound 3 was transformed to compound 1 through a dissolution-recrystallization structural transformation process. The results illustrated that solvents and humidity have an important role in the formation of pseudopolymorphs with the same or different structural motifs.

Organoamine-induced isomerism of calixarene-based complexes: from 1D to 2D

Two isomers of the calixarene-based cobalt complex [Co₄Cl(TC4A)(BCPT)₂]⁻ (H₄TC4A = p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene; H₂BCPT = 3,5-bis (4′-carboxy-phenyl)-1,2,4-triazole) were obtained under the solvothermal conditions with tetramethylammonium/tetraethylammonium hydroxide (CIAC-236) and triethylamine (CIAC-237). Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that CIAC-236 has a 1D zigzag aggregate constructed by bridging the shuttlecock-like Co₄–TC4A secondary building units (SBUs) with two pairs of opposite V-shaped BCPT ligands while CIAC-237 possesses a 2D layer assembly with each Co₄–TC4A SBU bonded by four BCPT ligands in a same direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), which indicates that different shapes of the organoamines lead to different assembly of the BCPT ligands and the formation of different extended aggregates. For comparison, only the 1D structure ([Fe₄Cl(TC4A)](BCPT)₂]⁻, CIAC-238) was obtained for the iron complexes with all these three organoamines, which would be attributed to different property and coordination of iron element. Magnetic properties of all these three compounds were studied.

Two isomers of the calixarene-based cobalt complex, 1D aggregate and 2D network, were obtained with different organoamine templates.

Scalable Mesoporous Platinum Diselenide Nanosheet Synthesis in Water

Newly discovered two-dimensional (2D) atomic crystals (nanosheet) of platinum diselenide (PtSe₂) have progressively attracted attention due to their expected high performance in catalysis, sensing, electronics, and optoelectronics applications. Further extraordinary physicochemical properties are expected if these nanosheets of platinum diselenide can possess mesoporosity as this may enable a high range of molecular adsorption, enhancing their functionalities in catalysis, batteries, supercapacitors, and sensing. Here, we present for the first time a straightforward, aqueous-phase synthetic strategy for the preparation of scalable nanosheets of platinum diselenide with mesoporous structure via a surfactant-templated self-assembly followed by a thermal annealing phase-transformation process. We used hexamethylenetetramine as a hexagonal honeycomb (sp²-sp³ orbital) scaffold for assembling the Pt and Se organic complexes to form the nanosheet structure, which is stable, preserving the 2D structure and mesoporosity during a thermal annealing at 500 °C. Density functional theory analysis then indicated that the mesoporous nanosheets of platinum diselenide exhibit a high free-energy and large density of π electrons crossing the Fermi level, inferring a high-catalytic performance. This effortless strategy is currently being extended to the synthesis of other transition metal dichalcogenides, including the preparation of multi-metal atomic dichalcogenide nanosheets, for a wide variety of scientific and technological applications.

Nonlinear optical properties, upconversion and lasing in metal–organic frameworks

The building block modular approach that lies behind coordination polymers (CPs) and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) results not only in a plethora of materials that can be obtained but also in a vast array of nonlinear optical properties that could be aimed at.

Solvent-induced construction of two zinc supramolecular isomers: synthesis, framework flexibility, sensing properties, and adsorption of dye molecules

Solvent-induced construction of two zinc supramolecular isomerism, sensing properties and adsorption of dye molecules.

Tetrazine chromophore-based metal-organic frameworks with unusual configurations: synthetic, structural, theoretical, fluorescent, and nonlinear optical studies

Three unusual three-dimensional (3D) tetrazine chromophore-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) {(Et4 N)[WS4 Cu3 (CN)2 (4,4'-pytz)0.5 ]}n (1), {[MoS4 Cu4 (CN)2 (4,4'-pytz)2 ]⋅CH2 Cl2 }n (2), and {[WS4 Cu3 (4,4'-pytz)3 ]⋅[N(CN)2 ]}n (3; 4,4'-pytz=3,6-bis(4-pyridyl)tetrazine) have been synthesized and characterized by using FTIR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, gel permeation chromatography, steady-state fluorescence, and thermogravimetric analysis; their identities were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. MOF 1 possesses the first five-connected M/S/Cu (M=Mo, W) framework with an unusual 3D (4(4) ⋅6(6) ) topology constructed from T-shaped [WS4 Cu3 ](+) clusters as nodes and single CN(-) /4,4'-pytz bridges as linkers. MOF 2 features a novel 3D MOF structure with (4(20) ⋅6(8) ) topology, in which the bridging 4,4'-pytz ligands exhibit unique distorted arch structures. MOF 3 displays the first 3D MOF structure based on flywheel-shaped [WS4 Cu3 ](+) clusters with a non-interpenetrating honeycomb-like framework and a heavily distorted "ACS" topology. Steady-state fluorescence studies of 1-3 reveal significant fluorescence emissions. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of 1-3 were investigated by using a Z-scan technique with 5 ns pulses at λ=532 nm. The Z-scan experimental results show that the π-delocalizable tetrazine-based 4,4'-pytz ligands contribute to the strong third-order NLO properties exhibited by 1-3. Time-dependent density functional theory studies afforded insight into the electronic transitions and spectral characterization of these functionalized NLO molecular materials.

Diverse structures of metal–organic frameworks based on different metal ions: luminescence and gas adsorption properties

Diverse structures of metal–organic frameworks induced by different metal ions under solvothermal conditions exhibit different topological characteristics and spectral properties.

In situ solvent and counteranion-induced synthesis, structural characterization and photoluminescence properties of Pb-based MOFs

With solvents or counteranions as the only variable, three novel photoluminescent Pb-based metal–organic frameworks were obtained under the similar synthetic procedures.