Synthesis of Mesoporous Metal Oxides by Structure Replication: Thermal Analysis of Metal Nitrates in Porous Carbon Matrices.

A variety of metal nitrates were filled into the pores of an ordered mesoporous CMK-3 carbon matrix by solution-based impregnation. Thermal conversion of the metal nitrates into the respective metal oxides, and subsequent removal of the carbon matrix by thermal combustion, provides a versatile means to prepare mesoporous metal oxides (so-called nanocasting). This study aims to monitor the thermally induced processes by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), coupled with mass ion detection (MS). The highly dispersed metal nitrates in the pores of the carbon matrix tend to react to the respective metal oxides at lower temperature than reported in the literature for pure, i.e., carbon-free, metal nitrates. The subsequent thermal combustion of the CMK-3 carbon matrix also occurs at lower temperature, which is explained by a catalytic effect of the metal oxides present in the pores. This catalytic effect is particularly strong for oxides of redox active metals, such as transition group VII and VIII metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), Cu, and Ce.

CuN6 Jahn-Teller centers in coordination frameworks comprising fully condensed Kuratowski-type secondary building units: phase transitions and magneto-structural correlations.

The metal-organic framework [Cu(ta)(2)] (Hta = 1H-1,2,3-triazole), containing Jahn-Teller active Cu(II) ions and 1,2,3-triazolate ligands, is prepared under solvothermal reaction conditions. The compound shows a reversible phase transition from the tetragonal crystal system (α-[Cu(ta)(2)]: space group I4(1)/amd (no. 141), a = 11.8447(7) Å, c = 18.9782(13) Å, V = 2662.6(3) Å(3)) to the cubic crystal system (ß-[Cu(ta)(2)]: space group Fd3m (no. 227), a = 17.4416(15) Å, V = 5305.9(8) Å(3)) within the temperature range of 120-160 °C. Both [Cu(ta)(2)] polymorphs have identical bonding topologies that might be described as fully condensed Kuratowski-type pentanuclear secondary building units of local T(d) point group symmetry in which four Cu(II) ions occupy the vertices of an imaginary tetrahedron. α-[Cu(ta)(2)], as opposed to the high-temperature ß-phase, shows a strong tetragonal Jahn-Teller distortion of CuN(6) coordination octahedra. The compounds are characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR-, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Magnetic susceptibility investigations reveal two different Cu(II) sites at a ratio of 1 : 2, in agreement with the solid state structure of [Cu(ta)(2)]. At low temperatures the formation of antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II) dimers is observed, leading to a spin frustration of roughly 1/3 of all magnetically active Cu(II) sites.

Elucidating gating effects for hydrogen sorption in MFU-4-type triazolate-based metal-organic frameworks featuring different pore sizes.

A highly porous member of isoreticular MFU-4-type frameworks, [Zn(5)Cl(4)(BTDD)(3)] (MFU-4l(arge)) (H(2)-BTDD=bis(1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b],[4',5'-i])dibenzo[1,4]dioxin), has been synthesized using ZnCl(2) and H(2)-BTDD in N,N-dimethylformamide as a solvent. MFU-4l represents the first example of MFU-4-type frameworks featuring large pore apertures of 9.1 Å. Here, MFU-4l serves as a reference compound to evaluate the origin of unique and specific gas-sorption properties of MFU-4, reported previously. The latter framework features narrow-sized pores of 2.5 Å that allow passage of sufficiently small molecules only (such as hydrogen or water), whereas molecules with larger kinetic diameters (e.g., argon or nitrogen) are excluded from uptake. The crystal structure of MFU-4l has been solved ab initio by direct methods from 3D electron-diffraction data acquired from a single nanosized crystal through automated electron diffraction tomography (ADT) in combination with electron-beam precession. Independently, it has been solved using powder X-ray diffraction. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and variable-temperature X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) experiments carried out on MFU-4l indicate that it is stable up to 500 °C (N(2) atmosphere) and up to 350 °C in air. The framework adsorbs 4 wt % hydrogen at 20 bar and 77 K, which is twice the amount compared to MFU-4. The isosteric heat of adsorption starts for low surface coverage at 5 kJ mol(-1) and decreases to 3.5 kJ mol(-1) at higher H(2) uptake. In contrast, MFU-4 possesses a nearly constant isosteric heat of adsorption of ca. 7 kJ mol(-1) over a wide range of surface coverage. Moreover, MFU-4 exhibits a H(2) desorption maximum at 71 K, which is the highest temperature ever measured for hydrogen physisorbed on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

An organometallic chimie douce approach to new Re(x)W(1-x)O3 phases.

Re(x)W(1-x)O3.H2O and Re(x)W(1-x)O3 phases are prepared by a new organometallic chimie douce concept employing the organometallic precursor methyltrioxorhenium.

Two Ti-doped distrontium ruthenium tetraoxides: Sr2Ru0.93Ti0.07O4 and Sr2Ru0.81Ti0.19O4.

Crystals of titanium-doped distrontium ruthenium tetraoxide, Sr(2)Ru(1-x)Ti(x)O(4), with x = 0.07 and 0.19, were grown by floating-zone melting, and their structures were solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Increasing Ti content leads to a distinctive systematic variation of cell parameters and interatomic distances with respect to the undoped material.

First Isolation and Structural Characterization of a Nickel(III) Complex Containing Aliphatic Thiolate Donors.

Long overdue were syntheses of nickel(III) complexes containing aliphatic thiolate ligands. The complex anion [Ni(phmi)]- (phmi is the tetraanion of N,N'-1,2-phenylenebis(2-methyl-2-sulfanylpropionamide) has now been isolated-as PPh4 salt-and structurally characterized. The stability of the nickel(III) complex is attributed to the special properties of the ligand, which abolish or at least retard possible decomposition pathways.