Vapochromic behaviour of M[Au(CN)2]2-based coordination polymers (M = Co, Ni)

Vapochromic behaviour of a gold(I)-lead(II) complex as a VOC sensor

The reaction among [Au2Ag2(C6F5)4(OEt2)2]n, PbCl2 and terpyridine leads to the polymeric complex [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)}]n (1). Its crystal structure reveals potential voids close to the lead centres large enough to hold different molecules. The availability of these free sites allows complex 1 to act as a VOC sensor. Thus, when 1 is exposed to different solvent vapours such as acetonitrile, toluene or THF, variations in its solid appearance and its photophysical properties are observed as a consequence of the formation of the new polymorphs [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)(CH3CN)2}]n (2), [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)}]n·Tol (3) and [{Au(C6F5)2}2{Pb(terpy)(THF)}]n·THF (4). Each polymorph displays a different emission energy depending on its structure and the presence of metallophilic interactions. In addition, the reversible solvent molecule exchange allows the tuning of the luminescence emissions in the greenish yellow-red range. DFT and TD-DFT calculations were performed to explain the origin of the luminescence of all these complexes.

Metallophilic interactions in silver(I) dicyanoaurate complexes

This manuscript reports four new gold(I)−silver(I) complexes with 2-(2-pyridyl)-1,8-naphthyridine (pyNP) and terpyridine (terpy) as ancillary ligands, of formulation [Ag(pyNP)(Au(CN)2)]2 (1), [Ag2Au2(μ-CN)2(CN)2(pyNP)2] (2), [Ag2Au(μ-CN)2(terpy)2][Au(CN)2] (3) and [Ag4Au4(μ-CN)8(terpy)2(py)] (4). Complexes 1 and...

Crystal engineering of aurophilic supramolecular architectures and coordination polymers based on butterfly-like Copper-dicyanoaurate complexes: vapochromism, P-T behaviour and multi-metallic cocrystal formation

Using the equilibrium properties of CuII in the presence of the chelating ligand and the characteristics of the dicyanoaurate anion, we were able to obtain a family of 10 bimetallic...

Synthesis and Characterization of Camphorimine Au(I) Complexes with a Remarkably High Antibacterial Activity towards B. contaminans and P. aeruginosa

Fourteen new camphorimine Au(I) complexes were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (NMR, FTIR) and elemental analysis. The structural arrangement of three selected examples were computed by Density Functional Theory (DFT) showing that the complexes essentially keep the {Au^I-CN} unit. The Minimum Inhibition Concentrations (MIC) were assessed for all complexes showing that they are active towards the Gram-negative strains E. coli ATCC25922, P. aeruginosa 477, and B. contaminans IST408 and the Gram-positive strain S. aureus Newman. The complexes display very high activity towards P. aeruginosa 477 and B. contaminans IST408 with selectivity towards B. contaminans. An inverse correlation between the MIC values and the gold content was found for B. contaminans and P. aeruginosa. However, plots of MIC values and Au content for P. aeruginosa 477 and B. contaminans IST408 follow distinct trends. No clear relationship could be established between the MIC values and the redox potentials of the complexes measured by cyclic voltammetry. The MIC values are essentially independent of the redox potentials either cathodic or anodic. The complexes K₃[{Au(CN)₂}₃(^A4L)] (8, Y = m-OHC₆H₄) and K₃[{Au(CN)₂}₃(^B2L)]·3H₂O (14, Z = p-C₆H₄) display the lower MIC values for the two strains. In normal fibroblast cells, the IC₅₀ values for the complexes are ca. one order of magnitude lower than their MIC values, although higher than that of the precursor KAu(CN)₂.

Understanding the vapochromic response of mixed copper(i) iodide/silver(i) Iodide nanoparticles toward dimethyl sulfide

We report on the vapochromic behavior of a series of homo- and heterometallic copper(i) iodide/silver(i) iodide nanoparticles when exposed to dimethyl sulfide (DMS) vapor. These systems show remarkable colorimetric sensing behavior via emission color upon DMS exposure, shifting from pink to green emission. Kinetics measurements of CuI/AgI nanoparticle reactions with DMS show a significant rate increase with increasing Ag(i) content. However, luminescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction of the post-exposure samples with varying Ag(i) content reveal that the luminophore is identical in all cases and contains no Ag(i) ions. To rationalize the experimental observations and determine the vapochromic response mechanism, molecular dynamic calculations were performed on model (111) cation-terminated surfaces of copper iodide crystals doped with variable amounts of silver. Computational studies indicate that heterometallic Cu/Ag systems have a stronger binding affinity towards DMS vapor molecules than homometallic CuI and that embedding of the DMS molecules into the surface is the primary intermediate by which the vapochromic response occurs.

Tuning magnetic anisotropy by the π-bonding features of the axial ligands and the electronic effects of gold(i) atoms in 2D {Co(L)2[Au(CN)2]2}n metal–organic frameworks with field-induced single-ion magnet behaviour

Au^I atoms play an important role in determining the anisotropy of Co^II nodes in 2D Au^I–Co^II field-induced SIMs.

Zinc Tetracyanoplatinate: A Reversible Luminescence-Based Ammonia Sensor

ZnPt(CN)₄ was shown to be an effective material for ammonia sensing, and can be synthesized using either solution or mechanochemical methods. A combination of luminescence and Raman spectroscopy revealed that multiple species are involved in the reaction between ammonia and ZnPt(CN)₄ . The crystal structure of one of these species, Zn(NH₃ )₂ Zn(NH₃ )₃ (Pt(CN)₄ )₂ , was elucidated. Detection of ammonia vapor down to 50 ppm in air was accomplished by monitoring the luminescence spectrum. The reaction between ZnPt(CN)₄ and ammonia vapor is reversible, and can be cycled multiple times by either flowing air over the material or heating. ZnPt(CN)₄ also has a relatively high thermal stability, decomposing only when heated above 420 °C.

Thermal Expansion Behavior of MI[AuX2(CN)2]-Based Coordination Polymers (M = Ag, Cu; X = CN, Cl, Br)

Two sets of trans-[AuX₂(CN)₂]^--based coordination polymer materials-M[AuX₂(CN)₂] (M = Ag; X = Cl, Br or M = Cu; X = Br) and M[Au(CN)₄] (M = Ag, Cu)-were synthesized and structurally characterized and their dielectric constants and thermal expansion behavior explored. The M[AuX₂(CN)₂] series crystallized in a tightly packed, mineral-like structure featuring 1-D trans-[AuX₂(CN)₂]^--bridged chains interconnected via a series of intermolecular Au···X and M···X (M = Ag, Cu) interactions. The M[Au(CN)₄] series adopted a 2-fold interpenetrated 3-D cyano-bound framework lacking any weak intermolecular interactions. Despite the tight packing and the presence of intermolecular interactions, these materials exhibited decreased thermal stability over unbound trans-[AuX₂(CN)₂]^- in [ⁿBu₄N][AuX₂(CN)₂]. A significant dielectric constant of up to ε_r = 36 for Ag[AuCl₂(CN)₂] (1 kHz) and a lower ε_r = 9.6 (1 kHz) for Ag[Au(CN)₄] were measured and interpreted in terms of their structures and composition. A systematic analysis of the thermal expansion properties of the M[AuX₂(CN)₂] series revealed a negative thermal expansion (NTE) component along the cyano-bridged chains with a thermal expansion coefficient (α_CN) of -13.7(11), -14.3(5), and -11.36(18) ppm·K^-1 for Ag[AuCl₂(CN)₂], Ag[AuBr₂(CN)₂], and Cu[AuBr₂(CN)₂], respectively. The Au···X and Ag···X interactions affect the thermal expansion similarly to metallophilic Au···Au interactions in M[Au(CN)₂] and AuCN; replacing X = Cl with the larger Br atoms has a less significant effect. A similar analysis for the M[Au(CN)₄] series (where the volume thermal expansion coefficient, α_V, is 41(3) and 68.7(19) ppm·K^-1 for M = Ag, Cu, respectively) underscored the significance of the effect of the atomic radius on the flexibility of the framework and, thus, the thermal expansion properties.

Dicyanoaurate-based heterobimetallic uranyl coordination polymers

The first series of uranyl ([UO₂]²⁺)-dicyanoaurate coordination polymers and molecular complexes has been synthesized. Reactions of [A][Au(CN)₂] (A = [ⁿBu₄N]⁺ or [(Ph₃P)₂N]⁺ ([PPN])) and uranyl nitrate in alcoholic solvents in ambient light led to [A]₂[(UO₂)₂(μ-η²:η²-O₂)(NO₃)₂(μ-Au(CN)₂)₂], which incorporates peroxo ligands into a one-dimensional ladder topology with alternating aurophilic and peroxo rungs. Conducting the reaction with non-alcoholic solvents formed two polymorphs of a one-dimensional chain, [PPN][UO₂(NO₃)₂Au(CN)₂], from acetone, and a molecular analogue, [PPN]₂[UO₂(NO₃)₂(Au(CN)₂)₂], from acetonitrile, none of which exhibited aurophilic interactions. The addition of 2,2'-bipyridine to the initial reaction resulted in [UO₂(bipy)(MeO)(MeOH)]₂[(μ-Au(CN)₂)(Au(CN)₂)], a one-dimensional structure which propagates via a series of linear aurophilic bonds with pendant uranyl complexes; methanol and methoxy ligands provide additional connections through hydrogen bonding. The addition of 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine using solvothermal conditions resulted in the one-dimensional ladder [UO₂(Me₂bipy)Au(CN)₂]₂[(μ-OH)₂], generated through aurophilic bonds and hydroxide ligands. The incorporation of 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine (terpy) using solvothermal conditions resulted in [[UO₂(terpy)]₂(μ-NO₃)(μ-O)][Au(CN)₂], a molecular salt with no aurophilic interactions. Emission spectra attributable to aurophilic interactions are observed in [ⁿBu₄N]₂[(UO₂)₂(μ-η²:η²-O₂)(NO₃)₂(μ-Au(CN)₂)₂], while all others only show emission typical of the uranyl cation.

Three dimensional porous Hofmann clathrate [MIIPtII(CN)4]∞ (M = Co, Ni) synthesized by using postsynthetic reductive elimination

We synthesized cyano-bridged three dimensional metal–organic frameworks [M^II(H₂O)₂Pt^IV(CN)₄Br₂]_∞·n(H₂O) (1: M = Co, 2: M = Ni) with an NbO type topology.

Mixed Cu(i)/Au(i) coordination polymers as reversible turn-on vapoluminescent sensors for volatile thioethers

Cu(i)-doping transforms an inactive Cu(i)/Au(i) coordination polymer into an emissive, reversible solid state sensor for dimethyl- and diethyl sulphide.

Dicyanometallates as Model Extended Frameworks

We report the structures of eight new dicyanometallate frameworks containing molecular extra-framework cations. These systems include a number of hybrid inorganic–organic analogues of conventional ceramics, such as Ruddlesden–Popper phases and perovskites. The structure types adopted are rationalized in the broader context of all known dicyanometallate framework structures. We show that the structural diversity of this family can be understood in terms of (i) the charge and coordination preferences of the particular metal cation acting as framework node, and (ii) the size, shape, and extent of incorporation of extra-framework cations. In this way, we suggest that dicyanometallates form a particularly attractive model family of extended frameworks in which to explore the interplay between molecular degrees of freedom, framework topology, and supramolecular interactions.

An Extended Chain and Trinuclear Complexes Based on Pt(II)-M (M = Tl(I), Pb(II)) Bonds: Contrasting Photophysical Behavior

The syntheses and structural characterizations of a Pt-Tl chain [{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}Tl(Me2CO)]n 1 and two trinuclear Pt2M clusters (NBu4)[{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}2Tl] 2 and [{Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2}2Pb] 3 (bzq = 7,8-benzoquinolinyl), stabilized by donor-acceptor Pt → M bonds, are reported. The one-dimensional heterometallic chain 1 is formed by alternate "Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2" and "Tl(Me2CO)" fragments, with Pt-Tl bond separations in the range of 2.961(1)-3.067(1) Å. The isoelectronic trinuclear complexes 2 (which crystallizes in three forms, namely, 2a, 2b, and 2c) and 3 present a sandwich structure in which the Tl(I) or Pb(II) is located between two "Pt(bzq)(C6F5)2" subunits. NMR studies suggest equilibria in solution implying cleavage and reformation of Pt-M bonds. The lowest-lying absorption band in the UV-vis spectra in CH2Cl2 and tetrahydrofuran (THF) of 1, associated with (1)MLCT/(1)L'LCT (1)[5dπ(Pt) → π*(bzq)]/(1)[(C6F5) → bzq], displays a blue shift in relation to the precursor, suggesting the cleavage of the chain maintaining bimetallic Pt-Tl fragments in solution, also supported by NMR spectroscopy. In 2 and 3, it shows a blue shift in THF and a red shift in CH2Cl2, supporting a more extensive cleavage of the Pt-M bonds in THF solutions than in CH2Cl2, where the trinuclear entities are predominant. The Pt-Tl chain 1 displays in solid state a bright orange-red emission ascribed to (3)MM'CT (M' = Tl). It exhibits remarkable and fast reversible vapochromic and vapoluminescent response to donor vapors (THF and Et2O), related to the coordination/decoordination of the guest molecule to the Tl(I) ion, and mechanochromic behavior, associated with the shortening of the intermetallic Pt-Tl separations in the chain induced by grinding. In frozen solutions (THF, acetone, and CH2Cl2) 1 shows interesting luminescence thermochromism with emissions strongly dependent on the solvent, concentration, and excitation wavelengths. The Pt2Tl complex 2 shows an emission close to 1, ascribed to charge transfer from the platinum fragment to the thallium [(3)(L+L')MM'CT]. 2 also shows vapoluminescent behavior in the presence of vapors of Me2CO, THF, and Et2O, although smaller and slower than those of 1. The trinuclear neutral complex Pt2Pb 3 displays a blue-shift emission band, tentatively assigned to admixture of (3)MM'CT (3)[Pt(d) → Pb(sp)] with some metal-mediated intraligand ((3)ππ/(3)ILCT) contribution. In contrast to 1 and 2, 3 does not show vapoluminescent behavior.

Absorption of CO2 and CS2 into the Hofmann-type porous coordination polymer: electrostatic versus dispersion interactions

Absorption of CO2 and CS2 molecules into the Hofmann-type three-dimensional porous coordination polymer (PCP) {Fe(Pz)[Pt(CN)4]}n (Pz = pyrazine) was theoretically explored with the ONIOM(MP2.5 or SCS-MP2:DFT) method, where the M06-2X functional was employed in the DFT calculations. The binding energies of CS2 and CO2 were evaluated to be -17.3 and -5.2 kcal mol(-1), respectively, at the ONIOM(MP2.5:M06-2X) level and -16.9 and -4.4 kcal mol(-1) at the ONIOM(SCS-MP2:M06-2X) level. It is concluded that CS2 is strongly absorbed in this PCP but CO2 is only weakly absorbed. The absorption positions of these two molecules are completely different: CO2 is located between two Pt atoms, whereas one S atom of CS2 is located between two Pz ligands and the other S atom is between two Pt atoms. The optimized position of CS2 agrees with the experimentally reported X-ray structure. To elucidate the reasons for these differences, we performed an energy decomposition analysis and found that (i) both the large binding energy and the absorption position of CS2 arise from a large dispersion interaction between CS2 and the PCP, (ii) the absorption position of CO2 is mainly determined by the electrostatic interaction between CO2 and the Pt moiety, and (iii) the small binding energy of CO2 comes from the weak dispersion interaction between CO2 and the PCP. Important molecular properties relating to the dispersion and electrostatic interactions, which are useful for understanding and predicting gas absorption into PCPs, are discussed in detail.