Stepwise Assembly of an Electroactive Framework from a Co S Superatomic Metalloligand and Cuprous Iodide Building Units.

Invited for the cover of this issue is Christopher Bejger and co-workers at UNC Charlotte, Columbia University, and Donghua University. The image depicts a pair of star clusters in the constellation Perseus as the structure of two metal clusters in the reported framework. Read the full text of the article at 10.

Stepwise Assembly of an Electroactive Framework from a Co S Superatomic Metalloligand and Cuprous Iodide Building Units.

The design of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that incorporate more than one metal cluster constituent is a challenging task. Conventional one-pot reaction protocols require judicious selection of ligand and metal ion precursors, yet remain unpredictable. Stable, preformed nanoclusters, with ligand shells that can undergo additional coordination-driven reactions, provide a platform for assembling multi-cluster solids with precision.

Desymmetrized hexasubstituted [3]radialene anions as aqueous organic catholytes for redox flow batteries.

Negatively substituted trimethylenecyclopropane dianions, a subclass of hexasubstituted [3]radialenes, are candidates for use as active species in redox flow batteries (RFBs) due to their stability in water, reversible electrochemistry, and tailorable synthesis. Hexacyano[3]radialene disodium is investigated as a pH 7 aqueous organic catholyte. The dianion and radical anion are stable in air and aqueous solutions at neutral pH.

Ball and Socket Assembly of Binary Superatomic Solids Containing Trinuclear Nickel Cluster Cations and Fulleride Anions.

The superlattice structures of hierarchical cluster solids are dictated by short-range interactions between constituent building blocks. Here we show that shape complementary sites, as well as halogen and chalcogen bonding between exposed capping ligands and fullerides, govern the packing arrangement of the resulting binary solids. Four new superatomic solids, [Ni(μ-I)(μ-dppm)](C) (1·C), [Ni(μ-I)(μ-dppm)](C) (1·C), [Ni(μ-Te)(μ-dppm)](C) (2·C), and [Ni(μ-Te)(μdppm)](C) (2·C), (dppm = PhPCHPPh) were prepared and crystallized from solution.