Crown ether-like octanuclear molybdenum(V) clusters for cation binding and gas adsorption

Octanuclear polyoxomolybdenum-based porous materials, Na8[Mo8O8(μ2-O)8(μ2-OH)8(3-apz)4]2·26H2O (1, 3-Hapz = 3-aminopyrazole), K8[Mo8O8(μ2-O)8(μ2-OH)8(3-apz)4]2·7H2O (2) and (NH4)4[Mo8O8(μ2-O)8(μ2-OH)4(3-apz)8]·20.5H2O (3), have been successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal method and fully characterized. X-ray structural analyses show that microporous materials 1-3 contain round pores formed by octanuclear molybdenum-oxygen groups connected sequentially with pore sizes of 4.0, 4.0, and 4.8 Å, respectively. Both 1 and 2 are composed of two {Mo8} rings, which are connected by strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds between bridging hydroxy groups and oxygen atoms to form dimeric structures. The central pores in 1 and 2 are occupied by Na+ and K+, respectively, while they are empty in 3. This reflects the structural expansion and contraction effects induced by different cations. Through intermolecular stacking, 1-3 also exhibit channels with sizes of 14.0 × 6.4, 4.6 × 2.6, and 5.4 × 5.4 Å, respectively, which were used for the studies of gas adsorption. The results show that 1-3 can selectively adsorb CO2 and O2, including the empty hole in 3, while they show little or no affinity for gases H2, N2, and CH4. Moreover, an additional polyoxomolybdenum-based species (Mo8O26)n·4n(3-H2apz) (4) has been obtained with protonated 3-aminopyrazole in the absence of a reducing agent, which can serve as an intermediate for the polyoxomolybdenum-based porous products.

Crown ether-like discrete clusters for sodium binding and gas adsorption

Hexanuclear polyoxomolybdenum-based discrete supermolecules Na_x[Mo^V₆O₆(μ₂-O)₉(Htrz)_6-x(trz)_x]·nH₂O (x = 0, n = 15, 1; x = 1, n = 12, 2; x = 2, n = 10, 3; x = 2, n = 49, 4; Htrz = 1H-1,2,3-triazole) have been prepared and fully characterized with different amounts of sodium cations inside and outside the intrinsic holes. Structural analyses demonstrate that they all exist a triangular channel constructed by six molybdenum-oxygen groups with inner diameters of 2.86 (1), 2.48 (2), and 3.04 (3/4) Å, respectively. Zero, one, or two univalent enthetic guest Na⁺ have been hosted around the structural centers, which reflect the expansion and contraction effects at microscopic level. Water-soluble species can serve as crown ether-like metallacycles before and after the sodium binding. Diverse nanoscale pores are further formed through intermolecular accumulations with hydrogen bonding. Gas adsorption studies indicate that 2-4 can selectively adsorb CO₂ and O₂ but have little or even no affinities toward H₂, N₂, and CH₄. Theoretical calculations corroborate the roles of Na⁺ and auxiliary ligand with different states in bond distances, molecular orbitals, electrostatic potentials, and lattice energies in these discrete clusters. The binding orders of sodium cations in 2-4 are similar with the classical crown ethers, where 2 is the strongest one with 2.226(4)_av Å for sodium cation bonded to six O atoms.

Constructing multicomponent cooperative functional systems using metal complexes of short flexible peptides

The construction of cooperative systems comprising several units is an essential challenge for artificial systems toward the development of sophisticated functions comparable to those found in biological systems. Flexible frameworks possessing various functional groups that can form weak intra/intermolecular interactions similar to those observed in biological systems have promising design features for artificial systems used to control cooperative systems. However, it is difficult to construct multiple component systems >1 nm using these flexible units by controlling the arrangement of functional units, beginning with the precise control of the cooperative switching of multiple units. In general, it is difficult for oligopeptides to form stable conformations by themselves, although they have designability and structural features suitable for the development of cooperative systems. Increasing the number of coordination bonds in peptides, which are stronger than hydrogen bonds, can be used to control the assembled peptide structures and stabilize their structures owing to the variety of coordination bonds and selective binding affinity. Thus, metal complexes of artificial short peptides have great potential for the development of multicomponent cooperative systems. Based on this concept, we have developed a series of novel metal complexes of flexible peptides and have achieved, to date, cooperative systems, the formation of giant structures, and precise control over the functional units that are the essential bases for designable multifunctional systems that can be regarded as artificial enzymes. In this feature article, we summarize these results and discuss the principal/essential design of artificial systems.

Adsorption of water induces a reversible structural phase transition and colour change in new nickel(ii) macrocyclic complexes forming flexible supramolecular networks

A reversible reaction of ligand-exchange in a nickel(ii)–tpmc complex, promoted by water adsorption, results in a structural phase transition accompanied by colour change.

Macrocyclic Cu(ii)-organophosphonate building block with room temperature magnetic ordering

A novel macrocyclic Cu(ii)-organophosphonate building block displaying high temperature magnetic ordering, and the structure of [{Cu(2,2′-bpy)}₂(HO₃P(CH₂)₈PO₃H₂)₄] (1).