Hourglass-Shaped Homo- and Heteronuclear Nonanuclear Lanthanide Clusters: Structures, Magnetism, Photoluminescence, and Theoretical Analysis.

Synthesis of nonameric cationic clusters [Dy(acac)(μ-OH)(μ-OH)]OH·6HO (), [DyTb (acac)(μ-OH)(μ-OH)]OH·2HO (), and [Gd(acac)(μ-OH)(μ-OH)]OH·6HO () (acac = acetylacetonate) is reported. The emission spectrum of shows Dy(III) ion characteristic bands assignable to the F → H ( = 15/2 to 9/2) transitions. Emission due to both Dy(III) and Tb(III) ions is observed for in the visible range, with Tb(III) specific bands appearing due to the D → F ( = 6, 4, and 3) transitions.

A rigid calcium 2-ethylhexylphosphate one-dimensional polymer: synthesis, structure, thermal behaviour and decomposition chemistry.

The reactivity of two different phosphate esters has been explored with calcium ions. The reaction of calcium oxide with a mixture of mono/bis 2-ethylhexyl phosphate and 1,10-phenanthroline leads to the formation of the 1-D polymer [(phen)Ca(ehpH)] (1). On the other hand, the reaction of Ca(OAc) with trimethyl phosphate in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline however yields needle-shaped colourless crystals of [(phen)Ca(OAc)] (2).

The Redox Journey of Iconic Ferrocene: Ferrocenium Dications and Ferrocenate Anions.

The recent discoveries of both dicationic and monoanionic ferrocene derivatives throw light on the effect of the substituents on the C ring as well as the choice of redox agents and solvent system in the preparation of previously believed to be difficult synthetic targets. These oxidized and reduced forms of ferrocene are of interest to spectroscopists, magnetochemists, and theoreticians.

Boron: the first p-block element to fix inert N all the way to NH.

Boron, the fifth lightest element, in its sub-valent state in the form of borylene is able to activate inert dinitrogen all the way to the ammonium ion. The entire conversion has been established through a successive reduction-cum-protonation sequence, through the isolation of all intermediate species involving addition of two electrons and two protons. The activation of dinitrogen by the ambiphilic borylene is a parallel tactic to that of the well-known Haber-Bosch process.

Enhancing the barrier height for Yb(III) single-ion magnets by modulating axial ligand fields.

The effect of systematic modification of the axial ligand field X on Ueff values in Yb(iii)-based SIMs, [Yb(Ph3PO)4X2]X' (X, X' = NO3 (1), OTf (2) and X = I/Br/Cl; X' = I3 (3)), whose equatorial Ph3PO ligation remains unchanged, has been investigated. Combined magnetic studies coupled with ab initio calculations reveal weakening of the axial ligand fields leading to the increase in the energy barrier, apart from suggesting the operation of different relaxation pathways.

Ultra-sensitive gas phase detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by non-covalently functionalized graphene field effect transistors.

The high energy density (4.2 MJ kg-1) and low vapour pressure (7.2 × 10-9 atm) of chemical explosives such as TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) pose a grave security risk demanding immediate attention.

Ab initio chemical synthesis of designer metal phosphate frameworks at ambient conditions.

Stepwise hierarchical and rational synthesis of porous zinc phosphate frameworks by predictable and directed assembly of easily isolable tetrameric zinc phosphate [Zn(dipp)(solv)]4 (dippH2 = diisopropylphenyldihydrogen phosphate; solv = CH3OH or dimethyl sulfoxide) with D4R (double-4-ring) topology has been achieved. The preformed and highly robust D4R secondary building unit can be coordinatively interconnected through a varied choice of bipyridine-based ditopic spacers L1-L7 to isolate eight functional zinc phosphate frameworks, [Zn4(dipp)4(L1)1.5(DMSO)]·4H2O (2), [Zn4(dipp)4(L2)1.

Selective fluorescence sensing of polynitroaromatic explosives using triaminophenylbenzene scaffolds.

A supramolecular fluorophore, 1,3,5-tris(4'-aminophenyl)benzene (TAPB), selectively senses polynitroaromatic compounds (PNAC), viz. 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), picric acid (PA), m-dinitrobenzene (m-DNB) and p-dinitrobenzene (p-DNB) through donor-acceptor complexation. Steady-state and time resolved fluorescence measurements indicate predominantly static quenching of the TAPB fluorophore with TNT, DNT, m-DNB and p-DNB.

A double helix is the repeating unit in a luminescent calcium 5-aminoisophthalate supramolecular edifice with water-filled hexagonal channels.

Calcium 5-aminoisophthalate {[Ca(AIP)(OH2)4](H2O)} proportional, variant (1), synthesized from Ca(OH)2 and H2AIP, exists as a double helix. Hydrogen-bonding interactions between metal-bound water molecules, carboxylate oxygen, and the -NH2 group result in the formation of a supramolecular assembly, where the double helices are connected to each other to form hexagonal channels filled with water molecules.

Molecular zinc phosphonates: synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of [[(ZnMe)4(THF)2][tBuPO3]2] and [[(ZnEt)3(Zn(THF))3][tBuPO3]4[mu3-OEt]].

The reactions of zinc alkyls with tert-butylphosphonic acid in 2 : 1 and 1 : 1 molar ratios afforded [[(ZnMe)(4-)(THF)2][tBuPO3]2] (2) and [[(ZnEt)3(Zn(THF))3][tBuPO3]4[mu3-OEt]] (3), respectively. Compounds 2 and 3 have been fully characterised by means of spectroscopic and analytical methods. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed that zinc phosphonates 2 and 3 are tetra- and hexa-nuclear, respectively.

Monomeric, tetrameric, and polymeric copper di-tert-butyl phosphate complexes containing pyridine ancillary ligands.

The reaction of di-tert-butyl phosphate (((t)BuO)(2)P(O)(OH), dtbp-H) with copper acetate in the presence of pyridine (py) and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (collidine) has been investigated. Copper acetate reacts with dtbp-H in a reaction medium containing pyridine, DMSO, THF, and CH(3)OH to yield a one-dimensional polymeric complex [Cu(dtbp)(2)(py)(2)(mu-OH(2))](n) (1) as blue hollow crystalline tubes. The copper atoms in 1 are octahedral and are surrounded by two terminal phosphate ligands, two pyridine molecules, and two bridging water molecules.

Stabilization of p-block organoelement terminal hydroxides, thiols, and selenols requires newer synthetic strategies.

Metal hydroxides represent a very interesting and highly useful class of compounds that have been known to chemists for a very long time. While alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides (s-block) are commonplace chemicals in terms of their abundance and their use in a chemical laboratory as bases, the interest in Brønsted acidic molecular terminal hydroxides of p-block elements, such as aluminum and silicon, has been of recent origin, with respect to the variety of applications these compounds can offer both in materials science and catalysis. Moreover, these systems are environmentally friendly, relative to the metal halides, owing to their -OH functionality (resembling that of water).

Gallophosphonates Containing Alkali Metal Ions. 2.(1) Synthesis and Structure of Gallophosphonates Incorporating Na(+) and K(+) Ions.

The reactions between t-BuP(O)(OH)(2) and equimolar quantities of MGaMe(4) (M = Na, K) yield ionic and alkali metal containing molecular gallophosphonates [Na(4)(&mgr;(2)-OH(2))(2)(THF)(2)][(Me(2)GaO(3)PBu-t)(2)](2).2THF (2) and [K(THF)(6)][K(5)(THF)(2){(Me(2)GaO(3)PBu-t)(2)}(3)] (3), respectively. Compounds 2 and 3are soluble in common organic solvents and have been characterized by means of analytical and spectroscopic techniques, as well as by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.