Temperature induced single-crystal to single-crystal transformation of uranium azide complexes

The monomeric and dimeric uranium azide complexes {[(CH3)2NCH2CH2NPiPr2]2U(N3)2} (2) and {[(CH3)2NCH2CH2NPiPr2]2U(N3)2}2 (3) were synthesized by treating complex 1 with NaN3 at 60 and -20 °C, respectively. A temperature-induced single-crystal to single-crystal transformation of 3 to 2 was observed. The reduction of either 2 or 3 with KC8 yields a uranium nitride complex {[(CH3)2NCH2CH2NPiPr2]4U2(μ-N)2} (4).

Zwitterionic and Anionic Polycarboxylates as Coligands in Uranyl Ion Complexes, and Their Influence on Periodicity and Topology

The three zwitterionic di- and tricarboxylate ligands 1,1'-[(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene-1,4-diyl)bis(methylene)]bis(pyridin-1-ium-4-carboxylate) (pL1), 1,1'-[(2,3,5,6-tetramethylbenzene-1,4-diyl)bis(methylene)]bis(pyridin-1-ium-3-carboxylate) (mL1), and 1,1',1″-[(2,4,6-trimethylbenzene-1,3,5-triyl)tris(methylene)]tris(pyridin-1-ium-4-carboxylate) (L2) have been used as ligands to synthesize a series of 15 uranyl ion complexes involving various anionic coligands, in most cases polycarboxylates. [(UO₂)₂(pL1)₂(cbtc)(H₂O)₂]·10H₂O (1, cbtc^4- = cis,trans,cis-1,2,3,4-cyclobutanetetracarboxylate) is a discrete, dinuclear ring-shaped complex with a central cbtc^4- pillar. While [UO₂(pL1)(NO₃)₂] (2), [UO₂(pL1)(OAc)₂] (3), and [UO₂(pL1)(HCOO)₂] (4) are simple chains, [(UO₂)₂(mL1)(1,3-pda)₂] (5, 1,3-pda^2- = 1,3-phenylenediacetate) is a daisy chain and [UO₂(pL1)(pdda)]₃·10H₂O (6, pdda^2- = 1,2-phenylenedioxydiacetate) is a double-stranded, ribbon-like chain. Both [UO₂(pL1)(pht)]·5H₂O (7, pht^2- = phthalate) and [(UO₂)₃(mL1)(pht)₂(OH)₂] (8) crystallize as diperiodic networks with the sql topology, the latter involving hydroxo-bridged trinuclear nodes. [(UO₂)₂(pL1)(c/t-1,3-chdc)₂] (9, c/t-1,3-chdc^2- = cis/trans-1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) and [UO₂(pL1)(t-1,4-chdc)]·1.5H₂O (10, t-1,4-chdc^2- = trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate) are also diperiodic, with the V₂O₅ and sql topologies, respectively. Both [(UO₂)₂(mL1)(c/t-1,4-chdc)₂] (11) and [(UO₂)₂(pL1)(1,2-pda)₂] (12, 1,2-pda^2- = 1,2-phenylenediacetate) crystallize as diperiodic networks with hcb topology, and they display threefold parallel interpenetration. [HL2][(UO₂)₃(L2)(adc)₃]Br (13, adc^2- = 1,3-adamantanedicarboxylate) contains a very corrugated hcb network with two different kinds of cells, and the uncoordinated HL2⁺ molecule associates with the coordinated L2 to form a capsule containing the bromide anion. [(UO₂)₂(pL1)(kpim)₂] (14, kpim^2- = 4-ketopimelate) is a three-periodic framework with pL1 molecules pillaring fes diperiodic subunits, whereas [(UO₂)₂(L2)₂(t-1,4-chdc)](NO₃)_1.7Br_0.3·6H₂O (15), the only cationic complex in the series, is a triperiodic framework with dmc topology and t-1,4-chdc^2- anions pillaring fes diperiodic subunits. Solid-state emission spectra and photoluminescence quantum yields are reported for all complexes.

Water vapour induced reversible switching between a 1-D coordination polymer and a 0-D aqua complex

[Zn(3-tba)2], 1, a 1-D coordination polymer synthesised as 1·DMA, 1α, transformed to a nonporous form, 1β upon activation. 1β underwent further transformation to the dimeric complex [Zn(3-tba)2(H2O)2], 2, above 40%...

Proximity Effect in Uranyl Coordination of the Cucurbit[6]uril-Bipyridinium Pseudorotaxane Ligand for Promoting Host-Guest Synergistic Chelating

In the present work, we proposed regulating uranyl coordination behavior of cucurbituril-bipyridinium pseudorotaxane ligand by utilizing meta-functionalized bipyridinium dicarboxylate guest. A tailored pseudorotaxane precursor involving 1,1'-(hexane-1,6-diyl)bis(3-cyanopyridin-1-ium) bromide (C6BPCN3) and cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) has designed and synthesized. Through in situ hydrolysis of the pseudorotaxane ligands and their coordination assembly with uranyl cations, seven new uranyl-rotaxane coordination polymers URCP1-URCP7 have been obtained under hydrothermal conditions in the presence of different anions. It is demonstrated that the variation of carboxylate groups from para- to meta-position greatly affected the coordination behaviors of the meta-functionalized pseudorotaxane linkers, which are enriched from simple guest-only binding to host-guest simultaneous coordination and synergistic chelating. This effective regulation on uranyl coordination of supramolecular pseudorotaxane can be attributed to the proximity effect, which refers to the meta-position carboxyl group being spatially closer to the portal carbonyl group of CB[6]. Moreover, by combining other regulation methods such as introducing competing counterions and modulating solution acidity, the nuclearity of the uranyl center and the coordination patterns of the pseudorotaxane ligand can be diversely tuned, which subsequently exert great influence on the final dimensionality of resultant uranyl compounds. This work presents a large diversity of uranyl-based coordination polyrotaxane compounds with fascinating mechanically interlocked components and, most importantly, provides a feasible approach to adjust and control the metal coordination behavior of the pseudorotaxane ligand that might expand the scope of application of such supramolecular ligands.

Two scandium-based coordination polymers: rapid ultrasound-assisted synthesis, crystal transformation, and catalytic properties

Assisted by ultrasound waves, a Sc-based coordination polymer CP 1 was synthesized successfully. With 1 as the precursor, another stable CP 2 can be obtained by single-crystal to single-crystal transformation and 2 exhibited good catalytic activities.

Noncomplexed Cucurbituril-Mediated Structural Evolution of Layered Uranyl Terephthalate Compounds

Template synthesis is one of the most feasible ways to explore new uranyl compounds with intriguing structures and properties. Here we demonstrate the preparation of six novel "sandwichlike" uranyl coordination polymers (UCPs) based on two-dimensional uranyl-terephthalate acid (H₂TP) networks using CBn (n = 5, 6, 8) as template ligands in the presence of different cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺, or H₂N(CH₃)₂⁺). Compound 1 ([UO₂(TP)₂][Na₂(CB5)(H₂O)](H₂O)₅) is composed of layered uranyl-TP networks with the complex of CB5 and sodium cations as template ligands. In compound 2 ([(UO₂)₂(TP)₃]₂(CB6)(H₂O)₁₀), CB6 located between uranyl-TP networks contacts them by π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds. Compound 3 ([(UO₂)₂(TP)₃]₂[Na₂(H₂O)₁₀(CB6)]) is the same as compound 2 except for sodium cations bonding with CB6. Similarly in compound 4 ([(UO₂)₂(TP)₃][Cs(H₂O)₃(CB6)]), CB6 is a capsulelike structure capped with two cesium cations and interacts with uranyl-TP networks through π-π and C-H···π interactions. Compound 5 ([(UO₂)₂(TP)₃(HCOO)₂][K(H₂O)₂(CB5)]₂[H₂N(CH₃)₂]₂(CB6)(H₂O)₆) consists of both templates of CB6 and CB5 in which each CB5 is capped with one potassium cation while the H₂N(CH₃)₂⁺ cation is held at CB6 portals. In compound 6 ([(UO₂)₂(TP)₃]₂[UO₂(TP)₂(H₂O)₂][Cs(CB8)₃(H₂O)₄](H₂O)₁₆), CB8 ligands are connected by cesium cations to form a triangle motif and are further located between the uranyl-TP networks as template agents. All of the 2D layered structures with free CBn or cation-anchored CBn intercalate into the laminates of uranyl-terephthalate and shows a cucurbituril-mediated structural evolution. The regulating role of CBn as structure-directing template agents for the construction of layered UCPs through outer-surface interactions with layers of uranyl terephthalate is demonstrated, especially for the case of CB6 with contractive interlayer spacing.

Boosting the performance of energetic materials through thermally-induced conformational transition

We presented an effective strategy to improve the performance of energetic materials through thermally-induced conformational transition.

Phase transition triggered aggregation-induced emission in a photoluminescent uranyl–organic framework

The aggregation-induced emission is reported for the first time in an extended solid system and in a uranium compound.