Molecular tectonics: homochiral 1D and 2D cadmium based coordination networks

By combining enantiomerically pure tectons with Cd(NO₃)₂, a series of six new homochiral luminescent coordination networks are formed. The dimensionality and crystal packing of the latter are modulated by both the nature of the chiral side chains and the crystallization solvents.

Expanding the Scope of Electron-Deficient C-H Building Blocks: Direct Arylation of Pyromellitic Acid Diimide

Direct C-H activation of pyromellitic diimide (PMDI) is reported for the first time. The method avoids cumbersome pathways involving bromination usually required for further cross-coupling. Good to excellent yields of mono- and di-substituted PMDI derivatives can be obtained under optimized reaction conditions. The reaction scope was also explored, and the materials were characterized with respect to their thermal, optical, and electronic properties.

Molecular tectonics: heterometallic (Ir,Cu) grid-type coordination networks based on cyclometallated Ir(III) chiral metallatectons

A chiral-at-metal Ir(III) organometallic metallatecton was synthesised as a racemic mixture and as enantiopure complexes and combined with Cu(II) to afford a heterobimetallic (Ir,Cu) grid-type 2D coordination network.

Molecular tectonics: heterometallic coordination networks based on a Pt(II) organometallic metallatecton

Combinations of a neutral organometallic tecton based on a square planar Pt(ii) complex bearing two triphenylphosphine groups and two 4-ethynylpyridyl coordinating moieties in trans positions, with various metal halides (MX2, M = Co(ii), Ni(ii), Cd(ii), X = Cl(-) or Br(-)) lead to the formation of 2D grid type heterobimetallic coordination networks in the crystalline phase.

4,2':6',4''-Terpyridines: diverging and diverse building blocks in coordination polymers and metallomacrocycles

4,2':6',4''-Terpyridine (4,2':6',4''-tpy) is one of the less well documented isomers of the well-established bis-chelating 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine. The N-donors of the outer rings in 4,2':6',4''-tpy subtend an angle of 120°, leading to a description of 4,2':6',4''-tpy as a divergent ligand. Because it typically binds metal ions through the outer N-donors only, 4,2':6',4''-tpy is an ideal linker for combination with metal nodes (often geometrically flexible d(10) ions) in coordination polymers and metallomacrocyclic complexes. The facile functionalization of terpyridines in the 4'-position allows access to a suite of 4'-X-4,2':6',4''-tpy ligands in which the 4'-substituent, X, can be selected to assist in directing the metal-ligand assembly process. This overview of recent advances in the chemistry of 4,2':6',4''-tpy and its 4'-substituted derivatives looks at relationships within a series of chiral polymers, competition between the formation of metallocyclic complexes versus polymers, and the use of extended aryl systems to encourage the formation of coordination polymers in which π-stacking of arene domains dominates in the assembly process. Use of metal(ii) acetates is key to the formation of paddle-wheel and larger cluster nodes that direct the assembly of both predetermined and unexpected architectures.