Highly efficient visible-light driven photochromism: developments towards a solid-state molecular switch operating through a triplet-sensitised pathway.

We introduce a new highly efficient photochromic organometallic dithienylethene (DTE) complex, the first instance of a DTE core symmetrically modified by two Pt(II) chromophores [Pt(PEt(3))(2)(C≡C)(DTE)(C≡C)Pt(PEt(3))(2)Ph] (1), which undergoes ring-closure when activated by visible light in solvents of different polarity, in thin films and even in the solid state. Complex 1 has been synthesised and fully photophysically characterised by (resonance) Raman and transient absorption spectroscopy complemented by calculations. The ring-closing photoconversion in a single crystal of 1 has been followed by X-ray crystallography.

Solvothermal aluminophosphate zeotype synthesis with ionic liquid precursors.

We have carried out a study of aluminophosphate framework synthesis using several amine based ionic liquids and their parent amines as solvent and template. The results suggest that in the presence of fluoride ions from hydrofluoric acid the ionic liquids and their parent amines produce the same frameworks, while in synthesis without fluoride ions the products are not related. The results include the synthesis and crystal structure of a novel extra-large pore material using 1-methylpyrrolidine as solvent and template.

Ionic liquids and deep eutectic mixtures as new solvents for the synthesis of vanadium fluorides and oxyfluorides.

An exploratory study of the synthesis of vanadium (oxy)fluorides (VOFs) using ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic mixtures (DESs) as a solvent yielded 10 different materials. The previously reported chain type: (NH(4))(2)VF(5) (1), (NH(4))(2)VOF(4) (2), NH(4)VO(3) (3) and (H(2)NH(2)(CH(2))(2)NH(2))VF(5) (9) have been successfully produced for the first time using ILs as the reaction media. The monomeric (HNH(2)CH(3))(2)VOF(4)(H(2)O) (4), the dimer (HNH(2)CH(3))(4)V(2)O(2)F(8) (5) and the 1D chains (HNH(2)CH(3))(2)VF(5) (6), (H(2)O)(2)VF(3) (7), α-(H(2)NH(2)(CH(2))(2)NH(2))VOF(4) (8) and β-(H(2)NH(2)(CH(2))(2)NH(2))VOF(4) (10) are novel materials.

Coupled crystallographic order-disorder and spin state in a bistable molecule: multiple transition dynamics.

A novel bispyrazolylpyridine ligand incorporating lateral phenol groups, H(4)L, has led to an Fe(II) spin-crossover (SCO) complex, [Fe(H(4)L)(2)][ClO(4)](2)⋅H(2)O⋅2 (CH(3))(2)CO (1), with an intricate network of intermolecular interactions. It exhibits a 40 K wide hysteresis of magnetization as a result of the spin transition (with T(0.5) of 133 and 173 K) and features an unsymmetrical and very rich structure.

Ionothermal synthesis and magnetic studies of novel two-dimensional metal-formate frameworks.

Five novel two-dimensional frameworks containing formate-bridged metal-centered octahedra are synthesized ionothermally from two ionic liquids previously unused as solvents in hybrid synthesis, 2-hydroxyethylammonium (HEA) formate, and 1-hydroxy-3-proplyammonium (HPA) formate. Templating effects of the cation from each ionic liquid drive the formation of different structures. [NH(3)C(2)H(4)OH](2)[M(CHO(2))(4)] (1: M = Co, 2: M = Ni) exhibit the same stoichiometry and connectivity as their manganese analogue (3: M = Mn), but the manganese form exhibits a different topology from 1 and 2.

Calix[4]arene supported clusters: a dimer of [Mn(III)Mn(II)] dimers.

Phosphinate ligands allow for the transformation of a calix[4]arene supported [Mn(III)(2)Mn(II)(2)] tetramer cluster motif into an unusual [Mn(III)Mn(II)](2) dimer of dimers; the clusters self-assemble in the crystal to form bi-layer arrays reminiscent of the typical packing of calixarene solvates.

Towards enhanced ligand-centred photoluminescence in inorganic-organic frameworks for solid state lighting.

Three novel inorganic-organic framework compounds containing the organic chromophore ligand 9-fluorenone-2,7-dicarboxylic acid (abbreviated H(2)FDC) and barium (BaFDC), cadmium (CdFDC) and manganese (MnFDC), respectively, have been synthesized and evaluated for their use as phosphor materials for solid state lighting and other applications. The results are compared with two earlier reported structures containing the same ligand with calcium (CaFDC) and strontium (SrFDC). The barium- and cadmium-containing compounds both show blue excited, yellow photoluminescence, while the manganese structure does not.

Molecular assembly of two [Co(II)4] linear arrays.

Molecular chains of four Co(II) ions stabilized by a bis-β-diketone/pyridyl ligand may be isolated or linked into molecular pairs of two semi-independent such units.

Combining azide, carboxylate, and 2-pyridyloximate ligands in transition-metal chemistry: ferromagnetic Ni(II)5 clusters with a bowtie skeleton.

The combined use of the anion of phenyl(2-pyridyl)ketone oxime (ppko(-)) and azides (N(3)(-)) in nickel(II) carboxylate chemistry has afforded two new Ni(II)(5) clusters, [Ni(5)(O(2)CR')(2)(N(3))(4)(ppko)(4)(MeOH)(4)] [R' = H (1), Me (2)]. The structurally unprecedented {Ni(5)(μ-N(3))(2)(μ(3)-N(3))(2)}(6+) cores of the two clusters are almost identical and contain the five Ni(II) atoms in a bowtie topology. Two N(3)(-) ions are end-on doubly bridging and the other two ions end-on triply bridging.

Synthesis, structure, and dynamic properties of hybrid organic-inorganic rotaxanes.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of hybrid organic-inorganic [2]rotaxanes is described. The ring components are heterometallic octa- ([Cr(7)MF(8)(O(2)C(t)Bu)(16)]; M = Co, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Cd) nuclear cages in which the metal centers are bridged by fluoride and pivalate ((t)BuCO(2)(-)) anions; the thread components feature dialkylammonium units that template the formation of the heterometallic rings about the axle to form the interlocked structures in up to 92% yield in conventional macrocyclization or one-pot 'stoppering-plus-macrocyclization' strategies. The presence in the reaction mixture of additives (secondary or tertiary amines or quaternary ammonium salts), and the nature of the stoppering groups (3,5-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3)CO(2)- or (t)BuCONH-), can have a significant effect on the rotaxane yield.

Copper curcuminoids containing anthracene groups: fluorescent molecules with cytotoxic activity.

The coordination chemistry of the new curcuminoid ligand, 1,7-(di-9-anthracene-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione), abbreviated 9Accm has been studied, resulting in two new copper-9Accm compounds. Compound 1, [Cu(phen)Cl(9Accm)], was synthesized by reacting 9Accm with [Cu(phen)Cl(2)] in a 1:1 ratio (M:L) and compound 2, [Cu(9Accm)(2)], was prepared from Cu(OAc)(2) and 9Accm (1:2). UV-vis, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements were some of the techniques employed to portray these species; studies on single crystals of free 9Accm, [Cu(phen)Cl(9Accm)] and [Cu(9Accm)(2)(py)] provided detailed structural information about compounds 1 and 2·py, being the first two copper-curcuminoids crystallographically described.

Crystal structure of the insect neuropeptide proctolin.

The crystal structure of the neuropeptide proctolin (Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr) is reported revealing the solid-state conformation of its molecules and their association in the crystal.

[Mn(III)4Ln(III)4] calix[4]arene clusters as enhanced magnetic coolers and molecular magnets.

The use of methylene-bridged calix[4]arenes in 3d/4f chemistry produces a family of clusters of general formula [Mn(III)(4)Ln(III)(4)(OH)(4)(C4)(4)(NO(3))(2)(DMF)(6)(H(2)O)(6)](OH)(2) (where C4 = calix[4]arene; Ln = Gd (1), Tb (2), Dy (3)). The molecular structure describes a square of Ln(III) ions housed within a square of Mn(III) ions. Magnetic studies reveal that 1 has a large number of molecular spin states that are populated even at the lowest investigated temperatures, while the ferromagnetic limit S = 22 is being approached only at the highest applied fields.

A linear tetranuclear dysprosium(III) compound showing single-molecule magnet behaviour.

The asymmetric Cole-Cole plots observed in a remarkable linear Dy(III) compound suggests the occurrence of multiple relaxations most likely associated with distinct anisotropic centres, thus opening new avenues for investigating the relaxation dynamics of lanthanide aggregates.

Synthesis and properties of a family of unsymmetric dinuclear complexes of Ln(III) (Ln = Eu, Gd, Tb).

A new ligand has been synthesized with the aim of favoring distinct coordination environments within lanthanide polynuclear complexes. It has led to the formation of three unsymmetrical [Ln(III)(2)] (Ln = Gd, Tb, Eu) complexes, exhibiting weak antiferromagnetic coupling and, for Eu and Tb, high single-ion magnetic anisotropy. All of these attributes are necessary for these clusters to behave as possible 2qubit quantum gates.

Increasing the dimensionality of hybrid vanadium oxyfluorides using ionothermal synthesis.

A unique organically-templated vanadium(IV) oxyfluoride, [pyH][V(2)O(2)F(5)] has been prepared using an ionothermal approach. This compound has a novel layered structure which may be considered as arising via condensation of previously known 'ladder-like' structural building units. This suggests that ionothermal synthesis may provide a more effective route to extended network structures in these systems than the more widely explored hydrothermal-based media.

Nitrone [2]rotaxanes: simultaneous chemical protection and electrochemical activation of a functional group.

We report on the use of the hydrogen-bond-accepting properties of neutral nitrone moieties to prepare benzylic amide macrocycle-containing [2]rotaxanes in yields as high as 70%. X-ray crystallography showed the presence of up to four intercomponent hydrogen bonds between the amide groups of the macrocycle and the two nitrone groups of the thread. Dynamic (1)H NMR studies of the rates of macrocycle pirouetting in nonpolar solutions indicated that the amide-nitrone hydrogen bonds are particularly strong (approximately 1.

Determination of zinc incorporation in the Zn-substituted gallophosphate ZnULM-5 by multiple wavelength anomalous dispersion techniques.

The location of isomorphously substituted zinc over eight crystallographically different gallium sites has been determined in a single-crystal study of the gallophosphate ZnULM-5, Ga((16-x))Zn(x)(PO(4))(14)(HPO(4))(2)(OH)(2)F(7), [H(3)N{CH(2)}(6)NH(3)](4), 6H(2)O, in an 11 wavelength experiment, using data from Station 9.8, SRS Daresbury. The measurement of datasets around the K edges of both Ga and Zn, as well as two reference datasets away from each absorption edge, was utilized to selectively exploit dispersive differences of each metal atom type in turn, which allowed the major sites of Zn incorporation to be identified as the metal 1 and 3 sites, M1 and M3.

Complexation of Np(V) with N,N-dimethyl-3-oxa-glutaramic acid and related ligands: thermodynamics, optical properties and structural aspects.

Complexation of Np(V) with N,N-dimethyl-3-oxa-glutaramic acid (DMOGA) was studied in comparison with its diamide analog, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-3-oxa-glutaramide (TMOGA), and dicarboxylate analog, oxydiacetic acid (ODA). Thermodynamic parameters, including the stability constant and the enthalpy of complexation, were determined by spectrophotometry and calorimetry. Single-crystal structure of NpO(2)(H(2)O)(DMOGA).

The use of ionic liquids in the synthesis of zinc imidazolate frameworks.

Four zinc imidazolate materials has been synthesized under ionothermal conditions using ionic liquids; [Zn(C2O4)(C3N2H4)], P21/a (1); [Zn(CH3COO)(C3N2H3)], Ima2 (2); [Zn4(C3N2H4)(C3N2H3)8], P (3) and [Zn(C3N2H3)2], I41 (4). Compounds 1 and 4 have already known structures, but have been synthesised for the first time using ionothermal methods. Compounds 2 and 3 are novel and have been synthesized for the first time in this work.

A prototype chopper for synchrotron time-resolved crystallographic measurements.

A mechanical x-ray chopper has been designed to perform microsecond time-resolved crystallographic studies at the DIAMOND synchrotron I19 beamline. It consists of two asymmetric absorbers rotating synchronously at frequencies from 0 to 50 Hz in the same direction around a rotation axis that is parallel to the x-ray beam. The duration of the x-ray pulses produced by the chopper is determined by the relative phase between the two blades, which can be adjusted.

Praseodymium(III)-based bis-metallacalix[4]arene with host-guest behaviour.

The reaction of Pr(NO(3))(3).6H(2)O with the ligand 2-hydroxy-N-(2'-hydroxyethyl)-3-methoxybenzamide (H(3)L) in MeOH-MeCN generates the nonanuclear compound [Pr(9)(H(2)L)(8)(OH)(10)(NO(3))(8)](NO(3))(H(2)O)(2)(CH(3)CN) (), whose single-crystal X-ray structure reveals the presence of metallacalix[4]arene cavities that host guest molecules. The crystal packing of the antiferromagnetic Pr(9) cluster shows an intricate network of hydrogen bonds producing a one-dimensional supramolecular chain.

The highest-nuclearity manganese/oximate complex: an unusual Mn(II/III)15 cluster with an S = 6 ground state.

The synthesis, structure, and magnetochemical characterization of the largest manganese oxime cluster are reported. The Mn(15)/2-pyridinealdoxime compound is mixed-valence (II/III) and possesses an irregular structural motif with a novel Mn/O core. The oximato-bridged cluster exhibits an S = 6 ground state and a negative magnetoanisotropy.

Magnetism in metal-organic capsules.

Nickel and cobalt seamed metal-organic capsules have been isolated and studied using structural, magnetic and computational approaches. Antiferromagnetic exchange in the Ni capsule results from coordination environments enforced by the capsule framework.