Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Luminescent Properties of New Zinc(II) and Cadmium(II) Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on Flexible Bis(imidazol-1-yl)alkane Ligands

Series of Cadmium-Organic Frameworks Based on Mixed Flexible and Rigid Ligands: Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformations, Sorption, and Luminescence Properties

Here, we present a series of Cd(II) coordination polymers containing two types of ligands: sterically rigid terephthalate derivatives (bdc-NO22- and bdc-Br2-) and flexible bis(2-methylimidazolyl)propane (bmip). The combination of two types of ligands is used to obtain and characterize compounds by single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and TGA. Guest exchange results in structural transformations. 2-fold interpenetrated 1·DMF and 2·DMF rapidly undergo to 4-fold interpenetrated 1·Et2O, 1·EtOH, and 1·H2O, or 2·Et2O, respectively. Also, changes in the coordinating numbers and length of the N,N'-donor bmip ligand were observed according to single crystal X-ray analysis. Activated guest-free compounds [Cd(bdc-NO2)(bmip)] (1) and [Cd(bdc-Br)(bmip)] (2) are shown to be porous with a BET surface area of 103 and 283 m2·g-1, respectively. Moreover, both compounds demonstrate gate-opening behavior of ethylene adsorption isotherms at low pressures (<1 bar) and highly selective adsorption of benzene over cyclohexane or lower alcohols. Also, both compounds demonstrate a strong dependence of the maximum of the photoluminescence emission on an excitation wavelength. As a result, the photoluminescence color changes from white to red and from blue to red through green and yellow for compounds 1 and 2, respectively, with excitation wavelength changing from 360 to 540 nm.

Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Formate Using a Cadmium-Based Metal–Organic Framework Impregnated with Nanoparticles

The burning of fossil fuels to meet energy demands has increased carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, causing global warming and associated climate change. Therefore, new materials are being developed to capture CO2 effectively, limit its impact on the environment, and store and/or utilise it as an abundant C1 building block. In this study, we investigate a cadmium(II) metal–organic framework, [Cd(bdc)(DMF)]n (MOF1), synthesised by treating benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid with four equivalents of [Cd(NO3)2]. MOF1 was then used to support Pd, Ni, and Pt nanoparticles in forming MOF1/Pd MOF1/Ni and MOF1/Pt, respectively. These MOF-based materials were characterised using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). MOF1/Pd MOF1/Ni and MOF1/Pt proved highly active in the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 to formate selectively; in contrast, MOF1 did not hydrogenate CO2 to formate. The MOF1/Pd, MOF1/Ni, and MOF1/Pt catalysts produced formate selectively, with the highest TON of 1500 (TOF of 69 h−1) achieved using MOF1/Pd as the catalyst at 170 °C within 2 h. A formate yield of 98% was obtained, which demonstrates that the combination of nanoparticles and MOFs greatly enhances the catalytic activity of the active sites.

Photoactivable Ruthenium-Based Coordination Polymer Nanoparticles for Light-Induced Chemotherapy

Green light photoactive Ru-based coordination polymer nanoparticles (CPNs), with chemical formula [[Ru(biqbpy)]_1.5(bis)](PF₆)₃ (biqbpy = 6,6'-bis[N-(isoquinolyl)-1-amino]-2,2'-bipyridine; bis = bis(imidazol-1-yl)-hexane), were obtained through polymerization of the trans-[Ru(biqbpy)(dmso)Cl]Cl complex (Complex 1) and bis bridging ligands. The as-synthesized CPNs (50 ± 12 nm diameter) showed high colloidal and chemical stability in physiological solutions. The axial bis(imidazole) ligands coordinated to the ruthenium center were photosubstituted by water upon light irradiation in aqueous medium to generate the aqueous substituted and active ruthenium complexes. The UV-Vis spectral variations observed for the suspension upon irradiation corroborated the photoactivation of the CPNs, while High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) of irradiated particles in physiological media allowed for the first time precisely quantifying the amount of photoreleased complex from the polymeric material. In vitro studies with A431 and A549 cancer cell lines revealed an 11-fold increased uptake for the nanoparticles compared to the monomeric complex [Ru(biqbpy)(N-methylimidazole)₂](PF₆)₂ (Complex 2). After irradiation (520 nm, 39.3 J/cm²), the CPNs yielded up to a two-fold increase in cytotoxicity compared to the same CPNs kept in the dark, indicating a selective effect by light irradiation. Meanwhile, the absence of ¹O₂ production from both nanostructured and monomeric prodrugs concluded that light-induced cell death is not caused by a photodynamic effect but rather by photoactivated chemotherapy.

Exploring the multifunctionality in metal–organic framework materials: how do the stilbenedicarboxylate and imidazolyl ligands tune the characteristics of coordination polymers?

A synergistic effect causes MOF materials to demonstrate excellent iodine vapor retention and luminescence properties.

Crystal structure of a Zn complex with tereph-thalate and 1,6-bis-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexa-ne

A new zinc coordination polymer with rigid benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ate (bdc) and flexible 1,6-bis-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexane (btrh), namely poly[[(μ2-benzene-1,4-di-carboxyl-ato)[μ2-1,6-bis-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)hexa-ne]zinc] di-methyl-form-amide monosolvate], [Zn(C8H4O4)(C10H16N6)]·C3H7NO, was synthesized. According to the single-crystal XRD analysis, the product crystallizes in the P-1 space group and has a layered structure. Analysis of the layered structure reveals {Zn(bdc)} chains which are connected by pairs of btrh ligands. The layers are packed tightly perpendicular to the [1-22] direction, separated by one non-disordered di-methyl-formamide solvent mol-ecule per formula unit. According to thermogravimetric analysis, the product completely loses this solvent at 453 K; the desolvated compound is stable up to 503 K. As a result of the lack of hydrogen-donor groups, hydrogen bonds are not observed in the structure of the complex; however, an inter-molecular C-H⋯π contact of 3.07 Å occurs.