Assembly of Lanthanide-Containing 3D [MnMo9O32]6--Based Metal-Organic Frameworks and Oxidative Desulfurization Performance.

Lanthanide-containing polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks (POMOFs) not only enjoy intriguing architectures but also have good application prospects as catalysts. Herein, three novel three-dimensional (3D) POMOFs with the formulas of {H[Ln3(2,6-pydc)2(H2O)10(MnMo9O32)]·2H2O}n (Ln = La(1), Pr(2), Nd(3)) have been synthesized based on Waugh-type [MnMo9O32]6- anions and pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (2,6-H2pydc). Compounds 1-3 are isomorphic, and there are two kinds of one-dimensional (1D) helical chains with opposite handedness staggered into two-dimensional (2D) layers. Interestingly, the coordinated L- and R-[MnMo9O32]6- anions are encapsulated in 1D chains with the same chirality and are further expanded into 3D structures. The catalytic tests indicate that compounds 1-3 exhibit high-efficiency heterogeneous catalytic activity in the oxidative desulfurization reaction for catalyzing the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP) as the oxidant. Moreover, a series of control experiments have been conducted to investigate the influence of various parameters such as temperature, time, solvent, catalyst, and substrate on the reaction. Significantly, compound 2, as an example, exhibits good reusability and structural stability in the oxidative desulfurization reaction. It is worth noting that investigations on the oxidative desulfurization of [MnMo9O32]6- anions are scarce. Moreover, their electrochemical properties are also explored.

N-N-Bridged Polynuclear POM-Based Coordination Polymers Based on a V-Type Ligand: Proton Conduction and Magnetism.

The construction of polyoxometalate (POM)-based coordination polymers, in the presence of a nitrogen heterocyclic ligand, is intriguing due to the potential for obtaining diverse structures. These structures exhibit extensive application possibilities in the fields of proton conductivity and magnetism. Herein, four new POM-based polynuclear coordination polymers with the formulas of {[Fe2(btb)3(H2O)2(SiW12O40)]·3H2O}n (1), {[Cd2(btb)2(H2O)6(HPMoVI10MoV2O40)]·2H2O}n (2), {[Co3(OH)2(btb)2(H2O)5(HPMoVI10MoV2O40)]·7H2O}n (3), and {[Cu3(OH)(btb)2(H2O)(HP2Mo5O23)]·6H2O}n (4) have been prepared using the V-type 1,3-bis(4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-yl)benzene (btb) ligand. Compounds 1 and 2 feature similar two-dimensional (2D) structures, derived from the binuclear Fe2N6 and Cd2N4 subunits connected by tridentate btb ligands. Meanwhile, in compound 3, hexanuclear Co6(OH)4 units are bound by quadridentate btb ligands forming a 2D layer with the same 4-c sql topology simplification as compounds 1 and 2. In compound 1, Keggin-type polyoxoanions are monodentate-coordinated to metal ions and suspended on the 2D structure, while, in compounds 2 and 3, they act as discrete counterions residing in the interstitial spaces between two adjacent layers, thereby extending the 2D structures into 3D structures through hydrogen bonding interactions. In compound 4, trinuclear Cu3(OH) subunits are further constructed into a 3D framework through cooperation with four tridentate and quadridentate btb ligands as well as Strandberg-type anions. Furthermore, the proton conduction of the four compounds has been investigated. They display high proton conductivities at 358 K and 98% RH with powdered samples, which are 1.26 × 10-3, 1.24 × 10-3, 3.24 × 10-4, and 2.57 × 10-4 S cm-1, respectively. Interestingly, by mixing with Nafion, the composite membranes of compounds 2 and 4 exhibit enhanced proton conductivities, measuring at 4.87 × 10-2 and 1.28 × 10-2 S cm-1, respectively, at 358 K and 98% RH, which suggests excellent potential for applications. In addition, compounds 1, 3, and 4 display antiferromagnetic behaviors due to similar magnetic interactions. This work can provide research insights into the assembly of 2D POM-based coordination polymers with nitrogen heterocyclic ligands and Keggin-type POMs and further promote their research progress in proton conduction.

Ultrastable Polyoxometalate-Encapsulated Supramolecular Metal-Organic Nanotubes for Single-Crystal Proton Conduction.

Two unique polyoxometalate (POM)-encapsulated tubular materials with the formula K(H2O)6[M6(btp)6(H2O)22](P2W18O62)3(Hbtp)5(btp)3·52H2O [M = Mn (1) and Co (2); btp = 2,6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridine] were designed and synthesized based on the Dawson POM and V-type btp ligand, as confirmed by IR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and element analysis. Single-crystal XRD analyses of compound 1 show that two kinds of remarkable metal-organic supramolecular nanotubes, including trigonal and hexagonal nanotubes, are constructed along the c-axis direction via π···π-packing interactions between {Mn3(btp)3} rings and the btp ligands, of which [α-P2W18O62]6- anions are confined in channels, making the entire structure extraordinarily stable. Meanwhile, the coordinated [α-P2W18O62]6- anion within the hexagonal channel makes the channel highly hydrophilic and attracts a number of guest water molecules to fill in the free space, conducive to proton transport. Therefore, the single-crystal sample of 1 exhibits a high proton conductivity of 6.39 × 10-3 S cm-1 along one-dimensional channels, 30 times higher than that of a pellet sample at 358 K and 98% relative humidity.

A High-Symmetry Double-Shell Gd30Co12 Cluster Exhibiting a Large Magnetocaloric Effect.

A high-nuclearity 3d-4f cluster of [Gd30CoII6CoIII6(OH)56(NO3)12(CH3COO)30(H2O)30]·(NO3)22·(en)3·(H2O)3 (1) was synthesized through the reaction of Gd(NO3)3·6H2O, Co(NO3)2·6H2O, and sodium acetate in a mixture of ethanediamine (en), ethanol, and deionized water. The cluster core in 1 features a double-shell structure with a Co12 icosahedron encapsulating a Gd30 icosidodecahedron. A magnetic study reveals that separating Co2+ ions with Gd3+ ions can effectively reduce the magnetic interaction of 3d-4f clusters. Significantly, the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of 1 at 2 K and 7 T is up to 44.7 J kg-1 K-1, the largest MCE reported to date in the 3d-4f metal clusters.

Double-Propeller-like Heterometallic 3d-4f Clusters Ln18Co7.

Two high-nuclearity lanthanide-transition metal clusters with the general formula [Ln18CoIICoIII6(OH)14(CO3)9(CH3CH2COO)6(dea)12(H2O)30]·(NO3)8·Cl4·(CH3CH2OH)6·(H2O)12 (Ln18Co7, Ln = Gd (1) and Dy (2)) have been obtained by reacting CoCl2·6H2O, Ln(NO3)3·6H2O, and a mixture of ligands consisting of propionate and diethanolamine (H2dea). Crystal structural analysis exhibits two three-blade propellers composed of the CoIII3Ln9 units connected by one CoII ion and three CO32- ions, which assemble into a double-propeller-like structure (Ln18CoIICoIII6). Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) studies indicate that Gd18Co7 exhibits a large entropy change (-ΔSm) of 36.9 J kg-1 K-1.

Trigonal bipyramidal CoDy3 cluster exhibiting single-molecule magnet behavior.

A heterometallic 3d-4f compound formulated as {[CoIII2Dy3Na(CH3CH2COO)6(OH)6(NO3)4(H2O)2]·H2O}n (1) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The Co2Dy3 metal core adopts trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry. Compound 1 displays single-molecule magnet behavior with an energy barrier of 60.3 K under a zero dc field.

A bilayer triangular lattice with crown-like Co(7) spin cluster SBUs exhibiting high spin frustration.

A novel bilayer metal-organic framework is assembled with a perfect intralayer triangular subnet and ideal interlayer Td arrangement between unprecedented crown-like Co7 cluster units, exhibiting high spin frustration.