Molecular docking with SARS-CoV-2 and potential drug property of a bioactive novel Zn(II) polymer: A combined experimental and theoretical study

A new Zn(II) coordination polymer based on o-phthalato (Phth) and 2-aminopyridine (2-Ampy) viz. {[Zn(2-Ampy)₂(Phth)]∙(H₂O)]}_n (1) has been synthesized at room temperature and characterized by elemental analyses, electronic spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TGA/DSC), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The basic trimeric units of 1 form a polymeric chain by N-H⋯O and π⋯π interactions. These polymeric chains interconnect through various non-covalent interactions in two perpendicular directions to ultimately give rise to a 3D architecture of 1. The interesting non-covalent interactions in 1, contributing to its stability in the solid state are studied by Hirshfeld surface analysis and other different theoretical tools. Molecular docking study of 1 is performed against six different proteins of SARS-CoV-2. The drug potential of the synthesized compound is evaluated by ADMET calculations.

MOFs assembled from C3 symmetric ligands: structure, iodine capture and role as bifunctional catalysts towards the oxidation-Knoevenagel cascade reaction

Three new NiII/CoII-metal organic frameworks were self-assembled by the reaction of C3 symmetric 1,3,5-tribenzoic acid (H3BTC) and 2,4,6-tris(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (4-TPT) ligands and NiII/CoII salts under solvothermal conditions. Isomorphous MOF1 and MOF2 exhibit a 3D pillar-layer framework based on binuclear M2(OH)(COO)2 units connected by tritopic BTC3- and 4-TPT ligands with a novel (3,5)-connected topology net. MOF3 displays a 3-fold interpenetrated 3D network exhibiting a (3,4)-connected topology net. The porous MOF3 can reversibly take up I2. The activated MOFs contain both Lewis acid (NiII center) and basic (uncoordinated pyridyl or carboxylic groups) sites, and act as bifunctional acid-base catalysts. The catalytic measurements demonstrate that the activated MOF3 exhibits good activities for benzyl alcohol oxidation and the Knoevenagel reaction and can be recycled and reused for at least four cycles without losing its structural integrity and high catalytic activity. Thus, the catalytic properties for the oxidation-Knoevenagel cascade reaction have also been studied.

Cobalt Metal-Organic Frameworks Incorporating Redox-Active Tetrathiafulvalene Ligand: Structures and Effect of LLCT within the MOF on Photoelectrochemical Properties

Understanding the effect of charge transfer on the physical properties of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is essential for designing multifunctional MOF materials. In this work, three redox-active tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-based MOFs, formulated as [Co₆L₆(bpe)₆(EtOH)₂(MeOH)₂(H₂O)]_n·5nH₂O (1), [Co₅(μ₃-OH)₂L₄(bpe)₂]_n (2), and [CoL(bpa)(H₂O)]_n·2nH₂O (3) (L = dimethylthio-tetrathiafulvalene-bicarboxylate, bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene, bpa = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane), are crystallographically characterized. Complexes 1 and 3 are two-dimensional (2D) coordination polymers, and 2 features an unusual three-dimensional (3D) MOF. The structure of 2 contains a cluster chain constructed from μ₂-O bridged pentanuclear cluster subunits, which is first found for 3D MOFs. Complexes 1 and 2 are comprised of the same ligands L and bpe but with different multidimensional configuration, and complexes 1 and 3 have the same 2D layered structures with the same ligand L but with different conjugation ligand bpe/bpa, which provide a good comparison for the structure-property relationship. The charge-transfer (CT) interactions within MOF 1 are stronger than those of 2 due to the closer packing of electron donor (D) L and electron acceptor (A) bpe in 1, and no CT occurs within MOF 3 because of the unconjugated bpa. The order of photocurrent density is 1 > 2 ≫ 3, which is in accordance with that of CT interactions. Further analysis reveals that the CT interactions within the MOF are not beneficial for the supercapacitance which is verified by the highest supercapacitance performance of 3. This work is the first study of the structures and CT effects on the supercapacitance performance.

Two ZnII-based MOFs constructed with biphenyl-2,2',5,5'-tetracarboxylic acid and flexible N-donor ligands: syntheses, structures and properties

Two new Zn²⁺-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on biphenyl-2,2',5,5'-tetracarboxylic acid, i.e. H₄(o,m-bpta), and N-donor ligands, namely, poly[[(μ₄-biphenyl-2,2',5,5'-tetracarboxylato)bis{[1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(1H-imidazole)}dizinc(II)] dimethylformamide monosolvate dihydrate], {[Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)₂]·C₃H₇NO·2H₂O}_n or {[Zn₂(o,m-bpta)(1,3-bimb)₂]·C₃H₇NO·2H₂O}_n (1) {1,3-bimb = [1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(1H-imidazole)}, and poly[[(μ₄-biphenyl-2,2',5,5'-tetracarboxylato)bis{[1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(1H-imidazole)}dizinc(II)] monohydrate], {[Zn₂(C₁₆H₆O₈)(C₁₄H₁₄N₄)₂]·H₂O}_n or {[Zn₂(o,m-bpta)(1,4-bimb)₂]·H₂O}_n (2) {1,4-bimb = [1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(1H-imidazole)}, have been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. The complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Structurally, the (o,m-bpta)^4- ligands are fully deprotonated and combine with Zn²⁺ ions in μ₄-coordination modes. Complex 1 is a (3,4)-connected porous network with honeycomb-like [Zn₂(o,m-bpta)]_n sheets formed by 4-connected (o,m-bpta)^4- ligands. Complex 2 exhibits a (2,4)-connected network formed by 4-connected (o,m-bpta)^4- ligands linking Zn²⁺ ions in left-handed helical chains. The cis-configured 1,3-bimb and 1,4-bimb ligands bridge Zn²⁺ ions to form multi-membered [Zn₂(bimb)₂] loops. Optically, the complexes show strong fluorescence and display larger red shifts compared to free H₄(o,m-bpta). Complex 2 shows ferroelectric properties due to crystallizing in the C_2v polar point group.

Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensing and Magnetic Property Based On the Composite Formed by Encapsulating Ag Nanoparticles in Cluster-Based Co-MOF

Utilizing the oxygen-bridged 5,5'-oxidiisophthalic acid (H₄L) linker, one Co(II)-based 3D porous MOF {[Co₅(L)₂(OH)₂(OH₂)₂(H₂O)₄]·2DMF·H₂O}_n (1) with pentanuclear [Co₅(μ₃-OH)₂(μ₂-OH₂)₂]⁸⁺ cluster was prepared. The glassy carbon electrode was modified by 1, and the obtained electrode revealed electrocatalytic performance for glucose oxidation. The porous MOF matrix is beneficial for dispersing Ag nanoparticles evenly in the interior cages or channels, so Ag@1 composite composed of both Ag nanoparticles and MOF was further prepared through deposition-reduction method to enhance electrocatalytic activity. The result demonstrates that the glucose oxidation by Ag@1 was greatly increased with low detection limit (1.32 μM) and good selectivity and sensitivity (0.135 μA μM^-1), which promote the application of MOF-template porous composites as advanced electrochemical sensor materials. Furthermore, 1 shows an interesting magnetic spin-glass slow dynamics for the existing of peculiar pentanuclear Co(II) clusters.

A cobalt(ii) chain based on pymca generated in situ from the hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyrimidine: spin canting and magnetic relaxation

A one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer, [{Co2(pymca)2·(H2O)4}SO4·2H2O] n (1) (pymca = 2-carboxypyrimidine), was solvothermally synthesized via the reaction of 2-cyanopyrimidine and Co(SCN)2. A bidentate pymca ligand was formed in situ by the hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyrimidine. Furthermore, in this study, the magnetic properties of complex 1 were investigated in detail. The results indicated that complex 1 showed a single-chain magnet (SCM) behavior below ca. 3 K. The energy barrier (Δτ 1/k B) and preexponential factor (τ 0) of SCM were 31.2 K and 5.4 × 10-9 s, respectively.

Remarkable pressure-induced emission enhancement based on intermolecular charge transfer in halogen bond-driven dual-component co-crystals

A series of two-component co-crystals driven by IN interactions based on the bipyridine (BIPY) chromophore with one among three different co-former building blocks, iodopentafluorobenzene (IPFB), 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (DITFB) and 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (IFB), were prepared and analysed via infared spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. By comparing the IN distances in the co-crystal structures, we found that the higher the -F ratio in the building blocks the closer the contact of the IN bond, enhancing the intermolecular interactions in these co-crystals as well. That is, the positive electrostatic potential on the iodine atom(s) in the co-formers was enhanced by the presence of strong electron-withdrawing groups. The distinct spectroscopic behaviours (fluorescence and Raman spectra) among the two-component BIPY co-crystal systems in response to hydrostatic pressure were also investigated. Interestingly, the fluorescence of BIPY-DITFB presented intriguing abnormal evolution from dark to bright, suggesting a new charge transfer state due to the decreased intermolecular distance and the enhanced IN interactions. Theoretical simulations by Materials Studio also showed the shortened IN distance and the increased angle of C-IN, evidencing the enhanced IN interactions. In contrast, BIPY-IFB showed only slightly enhanced fluorescence intensity at 550 nm consistent with BIPY-DITFB. Once the pressure was relieved, both the Raman and fluorescence spectra for BIPY co-crystal systems entirely self-recovered. Remarkable emission enhancement in a solid-state co-crystal has been rarely reported in previous publications and in fact, this study paves a unique way for designing and developing novel stimuli-responsive photo-functional materials.

Multifunctional Aromatic Carboxylic Acids as Versatile Building Blocks for Hydrothermal Design of Coordination Polymers

Selected recent examples of coordination polymers (CPs) or metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) constructed from different multifunctional carboxylic acids with phenyl-pyridine or biphenyl cores have been discussed. Despite being still little explored in crystal engineering research, such types of semi-rigid, thermally stable, multifunctional and versatile carboxylic acid building blocks have become very promising toward the hydrothermal synthesis of metal-organic architectures possessing distinct structural features, topologies, and functional properties. Thus, the main aim of this mini-review has been to motivate further research toward the synthesis and application of coordination polymers assembled from polycarboxylic acids with phenyl-pyridine or biphenyl cores. The importance of different reaction parameters and hydrothermal conditions on the generation and structural types of CPs or MOFs has also been highlighted. The influence of the type of main di- or tricarboxylate ligand, nature of metal node, stoichiometry and molar ratio of reagents, temperature, and presence of auxiliary ligands or templates has been showcased. Selected examples of highly porous or luminescent CPs, compounds with unusual magnetic properties, and frameworks for selective sensing applications have been described.

Binuclear Mn2+ complexes of a biphenyltetracarboxylic acid with variable N-donor ligands: syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties

A series of manganese(ii) coordination polymers show a variety of features due to the recognition and assembly processes of the N-donor ligands.