Effect of Unsaturated Metal Site Modulation in Highly Stable Microporous Materials on CO2 Capture and Fixation

We have designed and synthesized two unprecedented microporous three-dimensional metal-organic frameworks, {[Cd₆(TPOM)₃(L)₆]·12DMF·3H₂O}_n (1) and {[Zn₂(TPOM)(L)₂]·2DMF·H₂O}_n (2), based on a flexible quadritopic ligand, tetrakis(4-pyridyloxymethylene)methane (TPOM), and a bent dicarboxylic acid, 4,4'-(dimethylsilanediyl)bis-benzoic acid (H₂L). The networks of 1 and 2 share a 4-c uninodal net NbO topology but exhibit different metal environments due to coordination preferences of Cd(II) and Zn(II). The Cd(II) center in 1 is six-coordinated, whereas the Zn(II) center in 2 is only four-coordinated, making the latter an unsaturated metal center. Such modulation of coordination atmosphere of metal centers in MOFs with the same topology is possible due to diverse binding of the carboxylate groups of L^2-. Both 1 and 2 have relatively high thermal stability and exhibit permanent porosity after the removal of guest solvent molecules based on variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction and gas adsorption analysis. These materials exhibit similar gas adsorption properties, especially highly selective CO₂ uptake/capture over other gases (N₂ and CH₄). However, because of the presence of an unsaturated Lewis acidic metal site, 2 acts as a very efficient heterogeneous catalyst toward the chemical conversion of CO₂ to cyclic carbonates under mild conditions, whereas 1 shows very less activity. This work provides experimental evidence for the postulate that an unsaturated metal site in MOFs enhances adsoprtion of CO₂ and promotes its conversion via the Lewis-acid catalysis.

The effect of the orientation of the Jahn–Teller distortion on the magnetic interactions of trinuclear mixed-valence Mn(ii)/Mn(iii) complexes

The effect of the orientation of the Jahn–Teller distortion on the magnetic interactions in two new mixed-valence trinuclear Mn(iii)–Mn(ii)–Mn(iii) complexes has been investigated.

Construction of functional coordination polymers derived from designed flexible bis(4-carboxybenzyl)amine

A series of coordination polymers (CPs) have been constructed from bis(4-carboxybenzyl)amine and a series of bis(imidazole) linkers. Luminescence sensing measurements indicate that two zinc-based CPs both show highly selective and sensitive sensing for acetone and Cr₂O₇²⁻/CrO₄²⁻.

Reversible crystal-to-amorphous structural transformations and magnetic variations in single end-on azide-bridged MII (M = Mn, Ni) coordination polymers

Azide-bridged coordination polymers undergo reversible crystal-to-amorphous phase transformations during the hydration–dehydration process.

A one dimensional coordination polymer composed of antiferromagnetically coupled disk-like [Mn7] units

A single-chain magnet (SCM) was constructed from disk-like Mn₇ clusters linked by azide units.

A porous framework based on tetrakis(4-pyridyloxymethyl)methane fine-tuned by metal ions: synthesis, crystal structures and adsorption properties

Solvothermal reactions of tetrakis(4-pyridyloxymethyl)methane and 4,4′-oxybisbenzoic acid with different metal ions produced three new coordination polymers.