Cellulose Acetate-Supported Copper as an Efficient Sustainable Heterogenous Catalyst for Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Click Reactions in Water.

A new sustainable heterogeneous catalyst for copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) was investigated. The preparation of the sustainable catalyst was carried out through the complexation reaction between the polysaccharide cellulose acetate backbone (CA) and copper(II) ions. The resulting complex [Cu(II)-CA] was fully characterized by using different spectroscopic methods such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), and Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) analyses. The Cu(II)-CA complex exhibits high activity in the CuAAC reaction for substituted alkynes and organic azides, leading to a selective synthesis of the corresponding 1,4-isomer 1,2,3-triazoles in water as a solvent and working at room temperature. It is worth noting that this catalyst has several advantages from the sustainable chemistry point of view including no use of additives, biopolymer support, reactions carried out in water at room temperature, and easy recovery of the catalyst. These characteristics make it a potential candidate not only for the CuAAC reaction but also for other catalytic organic reactions.

Field-Induced Single-Ion Magnet Behavior in Nickel(II) Complexes with Functionalized 2,2':6'-2″-Terpyridine Derivatives: Preparation and Magneto-Structural Study.

Two mononuclear nickel(II) complexes of the formula [Ni(terpyCOOH)2](ClO4)2∙4H2O (1) and [Ni(terpyepy)2](ClO4)2 MeOH (2) [terpyCOOH = 4'-carboxyl-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine and terpyepy = 4'-[(2-pyridin-4-yl)ethynyl]-2,2':6',2″-terpyridine] have been prepared and their structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 are mononuclear compounds, where the nickel(II) ions are six-coordinate by the six nitrogen atoms from two tridentate terpy moieties. The mean values of the equatorial Ni-N bond distances [2.11(1) and 2.12(1) Å for Ni(1) at 1 and 2, respectively, are somewhat longer than the axial ones [2.008(6) and 2.003(6) Å (1)/2.000(1) and 1.999(1) Å (2)]. The values of the shortest intermolecular nickel-nickel separation are 9.422(1) (1) and 8.901(1) Å (2). Variable-temperature (1.9-200 K) direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements on polycrystalline samples of 1 and 2 reveal a Curie law behavior in the high-temperature range, which corresponds to magnetically isolated spin triplets, the downturn of the χMT product at lower temperatures being due to zero-field splitting effects (D). Values of D equal to -6.0 (1) and -4.7 cm-1 (2) were obtained through the joint analysis of the magnetic susceptibility data and the field dependence of the magnetization. These results from magnetometry were supported by theoretical calculations. Alternating current (ac) magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 2.0-5.5 K show the occurrence of incipient out-phase signals under applied dc fields, a phenomenon that is characteristic of field-induced Single-Molecule Magnet (SMM) behavior, which herein concerns the 2 mononuclear nickel(II) complexes. This slow relaxation of the magnetization in 1 and 2 has its origin in the axial compression of the octahedral surrounding at their nickel(II) ions that leads to negative values of D. A combination of an Orbach and a direct mechanism accounts for the field-dependent relation phenomena in 1 and 2.

Study of the Counter Cation Effects on the Supramolecular Structure and Electronic Properties of a Dianionic Oxamate-Based {NiII2} Helicate.

Herein, we describe the synthesis, crystal structure, and electronic properties of {[K2(dmso)(H2O)5][Ni2(H2mpba)3]·dmso·2H2O}n (1) and [Ni(H2O)6][Ni2(H2mpba)3]·3CH3OH·4H2O (2) [dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide; CH3OH = methanol; and H4mpba = 1,3-phenylenebis(oxamic acid)] bearing the [Ni2(H2mpba)3]2- helicate, hereafter referred to as {NiII2}. SHAPE software calculations indicate that the coordination geometry of all the NiII atoms in 1 and 2 is a distorted octahedron (Oh) whereas the coordination environments for K1 and K2 atoms in 1 are Snub disphenoid J84 (D2d) and distorted octahedron (Oh), respectively. The {NiII2} helicate in 1 is connected by K+ counter cations yielding a 2D coordination network with sql topology. In contrast to 1, the electroneutrality of the triple-stranded [Ni2(H2mpba)3] 2- dinuclear motif in 2 is achieved by a [Ni(H2O)6]2+ complex cation, where the three neighboring {NiII2} units interact in a supramolecular fashion through four R22(10) homosynthons yielding a 2D array. Voltammetric measurements reveal that both compounds are redox active (with the NiII/NiI pair being mediated by OH- ions) but with differences in formal potentials that reflect changes in the energy levels of molecular orbitals. The NiII ions from the helicate and the counter-ion (complex cation) in 2 can be reversibly reduced, resulting in the highest faradaic current intensities. The redox reactions in 1 also occur in an alkaline medium but at higher formal potentials. The connection of the helicate with the K+ counter cation has an impact on the energy levels of the molecular orbitals; this experimental behavior was further supported by X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) experiments and computational calculations.

Trinuclear Cobalt(II) Triple Helicate with a Multidentate Bithiazolebis(oxamate) Ligand as a Supramolecular Nanomagnet.

The cobalt(II)-mediated self-assembly of the potentially tris(chelating) N,N'-2,2'-(4,4'-bithiazole)bis(oxamate) (dabtzox) ligand gives a new metal-organic supramolecular nanomagnet of formula K6Co3(dabtzox)3·8H2O·MeOH (1) featuring a unique linear triple-stranded trinuclear structure of the helicate type.

Recent Advances in Copper-Based Solid Heterogeneous Catalysts for Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions.

The copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction is considered to be the most representative ligation process within the context of the "click chemistry" concept. This CuAAC reaction, which yields compounds containing a 1,2,3-triazole core, has become relevant in the construction of biologically complex systems, bioconjugation strategies, and supramolecular and material sciences. Although many CuAAC reactions are performed under homogenous conditions, heterogenous copper-based catalytic systems are gaining exponential interest, relying on the easy removal, recovery, and reusability of catalytically copper species. The present review covers the most recently developed copper-containing heterogenous solid catalytic systems that use solid inorganic/organic hybrid supports, and which have been used in promoting CuAAC reactions. Due to the demand for 1,2,3-triazoles as non-classical bioisosteres and as framework-based drugs, the CuAAC reaction promoted by solid heterogenous catalysts has greatly improved the recovery and removal of copper species, usually by simple filtration. In so doing, the solving of the toxicity issue regarding copper particles in compounds of biological interest has been achieved. This protocol is also expected to produce a practical chemical process for accessing such compounds on an industrial scale.

Europium(III), Terbium(III), and Gadolinium(III) Oxamato-Based Coordination Polymers: Visible Luminescence and Slow Magnetic Relaxation.

The reaction of aqueous solutions of EuIII, TbIII, and GdIII ions with Na2Hpcpa [H3pcpa = N-(4-carboxyphenyl)oxamic acid] afforded three new isostructural oxamate-containing lanthanide(III) coordination polymers of general formula {LnIII2(Hpcpa)3(H2O)5·H2O}n [Ln = Eu (1),Tb (2), and Gd(3)]. Their structure is made up of neutral zigzag chains running parallel to the [101] direction where double syn-syn carboxylate(oxamate)-bridged dilanthanide(III) pairs (Ln1 and Ln2) are linked by three Hpcpa2- ligands, one of them with the µ-κ2O,O':κO″ coordination mode and the other two with the µ3-κ2O,O':κO″:κO'''. Additionally, two of those chains are interlinked through hydrogen bonding and π-π type interactions, resulting in a porous structure with channels where water molecules are hosted. The emission properties of 1 and 2 are evaluated as a function of the temperature, exhibiting an emission in red and green, respectively. The external quantum yield for 2 is approximately 7 times that obtained for 1, indicating that the oxamate ligand is a better sensitizer for TbIII ions. The temperature dependence of the dc magnetic properties of 1-3 reveals a different magnetic behavior depending on the nature of the LnIII ion. A continuous decrease of χMT occurs for 1 upon cooling, and finally χMT tends to vanish, as expected for the thermal depopulation of the six magnetic 7FJ excited states (J = 1-6) of the EuIII ion with a nonmagnetic 7F0 ground state. χMT for 2 decreases sharply with decreasing the temperature due to the depopulation of the splitted mJ levels of the 7F7 ground state of the magnetically anisotropic TbIII ion. A very weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the magnetically isotropic GdIII ions across the double carboxylate(oxamate) bridge is responsible for the small decrease of χMT at low temperatures for 3. The dynamic (ac) magnetic properties of 2 and 3 reveal a slow magnetic relaxation with very incipient frequency-dependent χM″ signals below 6.0 K (2) and frequency-dependent χM″ peaks below 10.0 K (3) under nonzero applied dc magnetic fields, being thus new examples of field-induced single molecule magnets (SMMs).

Holmium(III) Single-Ion Magnet for Cryomagnetic Refrigeration Based on an MRI Contrast Agent Derivative.

The coexistence of field-induced blockage of the magnetization and significant magnetocaloric effects in the low-temperature region occurs in a mononuclear holmium(III) diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N″,N″-pentaacetate complex, whose gadolinium(III) analogue is a commercial MRI contrast agent. Both properties make it a suitable candidate for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration, thus enlarging the variety of applications of this simple class of multifunctional molecular nanomagnets.

An Overview on the Performance of 1,2,3-Triazole Derivatives as Corrosion Inhibitors for Metal Surfaces.

This review accounts for the most recent and significant research results from the literature on the design and synthesis of 1,2,3-triazole compounds and their usefulness as molecular well-defined corrosion inhibitors for steels, copper, iron, aluminum, and their alloys in several aggressive media. Of particular interest are the 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives prepared in a regioselective manner under copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reactions. They are easily and straightforwardly prepared compounds, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and stable products to the hydrolysis under acidic conditions. Moreover, they have shown a good efficiency as corrosion inhibitors for metals and their alloys in different acidic media. The inhibition efficiencies (IEs) are evaluated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) parameters with different concentrations and environmental conditions. Mechanistic aspects of the 1,2,3-triazoles mediated corrosion inhibition in metals and metal alloy materials are also overviewed.

Mono- and Binuclear Copper(II) and Nickel(II) Complexes with the 3,6-Bis(picolylamino)-1,2,4,5-Tetrazine Ligand.

Four new compounds of formulas [Cu(hfac)2(L)] (1), [Ni(hfac)2(L)] (2), [{Cu(hfac)2}2(µ-L)]·2CH3OH (3) and [{Ni(hfac)2}2(µ-L)]·2CH3CN (4) [Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone and L = 3,6-bis(picolylamino)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine] have been prepared and their structures determined by X-ray diffraction on single crystals. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural mononuclear complexes where the metal ions [copper(II) (1) and nickel(II) (2)] are six-coordinated in distorted octahedral MN2O4 surroundings which are built by two bidentate hfac ligands plus another bidentate L molecule. This last ligand coordinates to the metal ions through the nitrogen atoms of the picolylamine fragment. Compounds 3 and 4 are centrosymmetric homodinuclear compounds where two bidentate hfac units are the bidentate capping ligands at each metal center and a bis-bidentate L molecule acts as a bridge. The values of the intramolecular metal···metal separation are 7.97 (3) and 7.82 Å (4). Static (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out for polycrystalline samples 1-4 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K. Curie law behaviors were observed for 1 and 2, the downturn of χMT in the low temperature region for 2 being due to the zero-field splitting of the nickel(II) ion. Very weak [J = -0.247(2) cm-1] and relatively weak intramolecular antiferromagnetic interactions [J = -4.86(2) cm-1] occurred in 3 and 4, respectively (the spin Hamiltonian being defined as H = -JS1·S2). Simple symmetry considerations about the overlap between the magnetic orbitals across the extended bis-bidentate L bridge in 3 and 4 account for their magnetic properties.

Ferro- and Antiferromagnetic Interactions in Oxalato-Centered Inverse Hexanuclear and Chain Copper(II) Complexes with Pyrazole Derivatives.

Two novel copper(II) complexes of formulas {[Cu(4-Hmpz)4][Cu(4-Hmpz)2(µ3-ox-κ2O1,O2:κO2':κO1')(ClO4)2]}n (1) and {[Cu(3,4,5-Htmpz)4]2[Cu(3,4,5-Htmpz)2(µ3-ox-κ2O1,O2:κO2':κO1')(H2O)(ClO4)]2[Cu2(3,4,5-Htmpz)4(µ-ox-κ2O1,O2:κ2O2',O1')]}(ClO4)4·6H2O (2) have been obtained by using 4-methyl-1H-pyrazole (4-Hmpz) and 3,4,5-trimethyl-1H-pyrazole (3,4,5-Htmpz) as terminal ligands and oxalate (ox) as the polyatomic inverse coordination center. The crystal structure of 1 consists of perchlorate counteranions and cationic copper(II) chains with alternating bis(pyrazole)(µ3-κ2O1,O2:κO2':κO1'-oxalato)copper(II) and tetrakis(pyrazole)copper(II) fragments. The crystal structure of 2 is made up of perchlorate counteranions and cationic centrosymmetric hexanuclear complexes where an inner tetrakis(pyrazole)(µ-κ2O1,O2:κ2O2',O1'-oxalato)dicopper(II) entity and two outer mononuclear tetrakis(pyrazole)copper(II) units are linked through two mononuclear aquabis(pyrazole)(µ3-κ2O1,O2:κO2':κO1'-oxalato)copper(II) units. The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 were investigated in the temperature range 2.0-300 K. Very weak intrachain antiferromagnetic interactions between the copper(II) ions through the µ3-ox-κ2O1,O2:κO2':κO1' center occur in 1 [J = -0.42(1) cm-1, the spin Hamiltonian being defined as H = -J∑S1,i · S2,i+1], whereas very weak intramolecular ferromagnetic [J = +0.28(2) cm-1] and strong antiferromagnetic [J' = -348(2) cm-1] couplings coexist in 2 which are mediated by the µ3-ox-κ2O1,O2:κO2':κO1' and µ-ox-κ2O1,O2:κ2O2',O1' centers, respectively. The variation in the nature and magnitude of the magnetic coupling for this pair of oxalato-centered inverse copper(II) complexes is discussed in the light of their different structural features, and a comparison with related oxalato-centered inverse copper(II)-pyrazole systems from the literature is carried out.

Magnetic Molecular Conductors Based on Bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) and the Tris(chlorocyananilato)ferrate(III) Complex.

Electrocrystallization of the bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) organic donor in the presence of the [Fe(ClCNAn)3]3- tris(chlorocyananilato)ferrate(III) paramagnetic anion in different stoichiometric ratios and solvent mixtures afforded two different hybrid systems formulated as [BEDT-TTF]4[Fe(ClCNAn)3]·3H2O (1) and [BEDT-TTF]5[Fe(ClCNAn)3]2·2CH3CN (2) (An = anilato). Compounds 1 and 2 present unusual structures without the typical segregated organic and inorganic layers, where layers of 1 are formed by Λ and Δ enantiomers of the anionic paramagnetic complex together with mixed-valence BEDT-TTF tetramers, while layers of 2 are formed by Λ and Δ enantiomers of the paramagnetic complex together with dicationic BEDT-TTF dimers and monomers. Compounds 1 and 2 show semiconducting behaviors with room-temperature conductivities of ca. 6 × 10-3 S cm-1 (ambient pressure) and 1 × 10-3 S cm-1 (under applied pressure of 12.1 GPa), respectively, due to strong dimerization between the donors. Magnetic measurements performed on compound 1 indicate weak antiferromagnetic coupling between high-spin FeIII (SFe = 5/2) and mixed-valence radical cation diyads (BEDT-TTF)2+ (Srad = 1/2) mediated by the anilate ligands, together with an important Pauli paramagnetism typical for conducting systems.

Coligand Effects on the Field-Induced Double Slow Magnetic Relaxation in Six-Coordinate Cobalt(II) Single-Ion Magnets (SIMs) with Positive Magnetic Anisotropy.

Two mononuclear cobalt(II) compounds of formula [Co(dmphen)2(OOCPh)]ClO4·1/2H2O·1/2CH3OH (1) and [Co(dmbipy)2(OOCPh)]ClO4 (2) (dmphen = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, dmbipy = 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and HOOCPh = benzoic acid) are prepared and magnetostructurally investigated. Each cobalt(II) ion is six-coordinate with a distorted octahedral CoN4O2 environment. The complex cations are interlinked leading to supramolecular chains (1) and pairs (2) that grow along the crystallographic c-axis with racemic mixtures of (Δ,Λ)-Co units. FIRMS allowed us to directly measure the zero-field splitting between the two lowest Kramers doublets, which led to axial anisotropy values of 58.3 cm-1 ≤ D < 60.7 cm-1 (1) and 63.8 cm-1 ≤ D < 64.1 cm-1 (2). HFEPR spectra of polycrystalline samples of 1 and 2 at low temperatures confirm the positive sign of D and provide an estimate of the E/D quotient [0.147/0.187 (1) and 0.052 (2)]. Detailed ac and dc magnetic studies reveal that 1 and 2 are new examples of field-induced single-ion magnets (SIMs) with small transversal anisotropy. CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations support these results. Two Orbach processes or one Orbach plus a direct relaxation mechanism provide similar agreements with the nonlinear experimental Arrhenius plots at Hdc = 500 and 2500 G for 1. Two independent relaxation processes occur in 2, but in contrast to 1, an observed linear dependence of ln(τ) vs 1/T substantiates Orbach processes against the most widely proposed Raman and direct mechanisms. The analysis of each relaxation process in 2 provided values for Ea and τ0 that are very close to those found for 1, validating the predominant role of the Orbach relaxations in both compounds and, probably, also in other cobalt(II) SIMs. A mechanism based on a spin-phonon coupling is proposed to account for the SIM behavior in 1 and 2 with any Raman or direct processes being discarded.

Cyanido-Bridged {LnIIIWV} Heterobinuclear Complexes: Synthesis and Magneto-Structural Study.

A new series of cyanido-bridged {LnIIIWV} heterobinuclear complexes of formula [LnIII(pyim)2(i-PrOH)(H2O)2(µ-CN)WV(CN)7]·2H2O [Ln = Gd (1), Tb (2), Dy (3), Ho (4), and Er (5); pyim = 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)-pyridine) and i-PrOH = isopropyl alcohol] were synthesized by one-pot reaction between (NH3Bu)3[W(CN)8] and [Ln(pyim)2]2+ complexes (generated in situ by mixing the corresponding LnIII ions and the pyim ligand). Compounds 1-5 are isomorphous and crystallize in the monoclinic system P21/n space group. Their crystal structure consists of binuclear units in which the octacyanotungstate(V) anion coordinates to the corresponding LnIII ion through a single cyanide ligand. The tungsten(V) and lanthanide(III) ions are eight-coordinated, in distorted square antiprism (WV) and distorted trigonal dodecahedron (LnIII) geometries, respectively. The direct-current (dc) magnetic properties for 1-5 reveal the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between WV and LnIII cation, with 8S7/2, 7F6, 6H15/2, 5I8, and 4I15/2 as ground terms for GdIII, TbIII, DyIII HoIII, and ErIII, respectively [JWLn = -1.19(1) (1), -1.02(2) (2), -1.10(2) (3), -1.30(2) (4), and -1.50(3) cm-1 (5), the spin Hamiltonian being defined as H = -JWLn SW·SLn]. The fit of the χMT data of 2-4 points out a positive value for the energy gap between the ML components (Δ). This feature is corroborated by their Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance spectra at low temperature, which clearly show MJ = 0 (2 and 4) and ±1/2 (3 and 5). Incipient frequency-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility signals are observed for 3 and 5 under applied dc fields supporting the presence of slow magnetic relaxation behavior, the blocking temperatures being below 2.0 K. This new series of {LnIIIWV} heterobinuclear compounds provides more insights into the exchange magnetic interaction between 5d and 4f centers via the cyanide-bridge, for which scarce information is available to date.

Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Magnetic Properties of Two Novel Cyanido-Bridged Heterotrimetallic {CuIIMnIICrIII} Complexes.

The self-assembly process between the heteroleptic [CrIII(phen)(CN)4]- and [CrIII(ampy)(CN)4]- metalloligands and the heterobimetallic {CuII(valpn)MnII}2+ tecton afforded two heterotrimetallic complexes of formula [{CuII(valpn)MnII(µ-NC)2CrIII(phen)(CN)2}2{(µ-NC)CrIII(phen)(CN)3}2]·2CH3CN (1) and {[CuII(valpn)MnII(µ-NC)2CrIII(ampy)(CN)2]2·2CH3CN}n (2) [phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, ampy = 2-aminomethylpyridine, and H2valpn = 1,3-propanedyilbis(2-iminomethylene-6-methoxyphenol)]. The crystal structure of 1 consists of neutral CuII2MnII2CrIII4 octanuclear units, where two [Cr(phen)(CN)4]- anions act as bis-monodentate ligands through cyanide groups toward two manganese(II) ions from two [CuII(valpn)MnII]2+ units to form a [{Cu(valpn)Mn}2Cr2(CN)4]6+ square motif. Two [Cr(phen)(CN)4]- pendant anions in 1 are bound to the copper(II) ions with cis-trans geometry with respect to the bridging [Cr(phen)(CN)4]- anion. Compound 2 is a sheet-like coordination polymer, where chains constituted by {CrIII(ampy)(CN)4} spacers act as bis-monodentate ligands toward the manganese(II) ions belonging to the {CuII(valpn)MnII} nodes, which are interlinked by another {CrIII(ampy)(CN)4} unit that acts as a bridge between the copper(II) and manganese(II) ions of adjacent chains. Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature range of 1.9-300 K were performed for 1 and 2. An overall antiferromagnetic behavior is observed for 1, the ground spin state being described by a spin triplet from the square motif plus two magnetically isolated spin triplets from the two peripheral chromium(III) ions. Ferrimagnetic chains with interacting spins 1/2 (resulting spin of the trimetallic {CuII(valpn)MnII(µ-NC)CrIII} fragment) and 3/2 (spin from the bis-monodentate [CrIII(ampy)(CN)4]- with weak interchain ferromagnetic interactions across the cyanide bridge between the chromium(III) and the copper(II) ion from adjacent chains [θ = +3.83(2) cm-1]) occur in 2, resulting into a ferromagnetic ordering below 3.5 K. The values of the magnetic coupling between the Cu(II) and Mn(II) ions through the double phenoxide bridge [J = -63.1(2) (1) and -62(3) cm-1 (2)] and those between the Cr(III) and the Mn(II) across the single cyanide bridge [J = -7.08(5) and -4.86(6) cm-1 (1) and -8.59(3) cm-1 (2)] agree with the values reported for these exchange pathways in other magnetostructural studies.

Rational Synthesis of Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks from Preformed Rodlike Secondary Building Units.

The lack of rational design methodologies to obtain chiral rod-based MOFs is a current synthetic limitation that hampers further expansion of MOF chemistry. Here we report a metalloligand design strategy consisting of the use, for the first time, of preformed 1D rodlike SBUs (1) for the rational preparation of a chiral 3D MOF (2) exhibiting a rare eta net topology. The encoded chiral information on the enantiopure ligand is efficiently transmitted first to the preformed helical 1D building block and, in a second stage, to the resulting chiral 3D MOF. These results open new routes for the rational design of chiral rod-based MOFs, expanding the scope of these unique porous materials.

Spin Crossover in Double Salts Containing Six- and Four-Coordinate Cobalt(II) Ions.

The preparation and spectroscopic and structural characterization of three cobalt(II) complexes of formulas [Co(tppz)2](dca)2 (1), [Co(tppz)2][Co(NCS)4]·MeOH (2), and [Co(tppz)2][Co(NCO)4]·2H2O (3) [tppz = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine and dca = dicyanamide] are reported here. Compounds 1-3 have in common the presence of the cationic [Co(tppz)2]2+ entity where each mer-tridentate tppz ligand coordinates to the cobalt(II) ion equatorially through two pyridyl donors and axially via the pyrazine, completing the six-coordination. The electroneutrality is achieved by the organic dca group (1) and the anionic tetrakis(thiocyanato-κN)cobaltate(II) (2) and tetrakis(cyanato-κN)cobaltate(II) (3) complexes. Direct current (dc) magnetic susceptibility measurements of 1 in the temperature range 1.9-400 K show the occurrence of a thermally induced spin crossover behavior of the [Co(tppz)2]2+ unit from a high spin (S = 3/2) at higher temperatures to a low-spin (S = 1/2) at lower temperatures, with the low spin phase being reached at T ≤ 200 K. X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements in solution at low temperatures were used to characterize the low spin state. An analytical expression based on the combination of the spin-orbit coupling and both first- and second-order Zeeman effects for a d7 electronic configuration was used to fit the magnetic data of 1, the values of the best-fit parameters being Cvib = 0.1367(9), λ = -168(2) cm-1, α = 1.12(1), Δ = 1626(15) cm-1, and gLS = 2.12(1). The magnetic behavior of the four-coordinate cobalt(II) ions [Co(NCS)4]2- (2) and [Co(NCO)4]2- (3) with a 4A2 ground state overlaps with the spin crossover of the [Co(tppz)2]2+ entity, the abrupt decrease of the χMT product below 15.0 K being due to zero-field splitting effects between the spin components |±1/2> and |±3/2>. The combined analysis of the dc magnetic data and the Q-band EPR spectra in the solid state of 2 and 3 led to the following sets of best-fit parameters: Cvib = 0.105(5), λ = -170(4) cm-1, α = 1.10(2), Δ = 1700(25) cm-1, gLS = 2.10(1), gHS = 2.27(1), and |D| = 3.80(2) cm-1 (2) and Cvib = 0.100(1), λ = -169(5) cm-1, α = 1.10(3), Δ = 1500(30) cm-1, gLS = 2.10(1), gHS = 2.28(1), and |D| = 4.30(2) cm-1 (3). Some evidence of slowing of the relaxation of the magnetization has been found in the out-of-phase ac signal at very low temperatures under applied dc fields of 0.1-0.4 T for 3, suggesting the occurrence of single-ion magnet behavior of its [Co(NCO)4]2- anionic entity.

Photoluminescent and Slow Magnetic Relaxation Studies on Lanthanide(III)-2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylate Frameworks.

In the series described in this work, the hydrothermal synthesis led to oxidation of the 5-methyl-pyrazinecarboxylate anion to the 2,5-pyrazinedicarboxylate dianion (2,5-pzdc) allowing the preparation of three-dimensional (3D) lanthanide(III) organic frameworks of formula {[Ln2(2,5-pzdc)3(H2O)4]·6H2O}n [Ln = Ce (1), Pr (2), Nd (3), and Eu (4)] and {[Er2(2,5-pzdc)3(H2O)4]·5H2O}n (5). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction on 1-5 reveals that they crystallize in the triclinic system, P1̅ space group with the series 1-4 being isostructural. The crystal structure of the five compounds are 3D with the lanthanide(III) ions linked through 2,5-pzdc2- dianions acting as two- and fourfold connectors, building a binodal 4,4-connected (4·648)(426282)-mog network. The photophysical properties of the Nd(III) (3) and Eu(III) (4) complexes exhibit sensitized photoluminescence in the near-infrared and visible regions, respectively. The photoluminescence intensity and lifetime of 4 were very sensitive due to the luminescence quenching of the 5D0 level by O-H oscillators of four water molecules in the first coordination sphere leading to a quantum efficiency of 11%. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1-5 reveal behaviors as expected for the ground terms of the magnetically isolated rare-earth ions [2F5/2, 2H4, 4I9/2, 7F0, and 4I15/2 for Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), Eu(III), and Er(III), respectively] with MJ = 0 (2 and 4) and ±1/2 (1, 3, and 5). Q-band electron paramagnetic resonance measurements at low temperature corroborate these facts. Frequency-dependent alternating-current magnetic susceptibility signals under external direct-current fields in the range of 100-2500 G were observed for the Kramers ions of 1, 3, and 5, indicating slow magnetic relaxation (single-ion magnet) behavior. In these compounds, τ-1 decreases with decreasing temperature at any magnetic field, but no Arrhenius law can simulate such a dependence in all the temperature range. This dependence can be reproduced by the contributions of direct and Raman processes, the Raman exponent (n) reaching the expected value (n = 9) for a Kramers system.

Dicopper(II) metallacyclophanes as multifunctional magnetic devices: a joint experimental and computational study.

Metallosupramolecular complexes constitute an important advance in the emerging fields of molecular spintronics and quantum computation and a useful platform in the development of active components of spintronic circuits and quantum computers for applications in information processing and storage. The external control of chemical reactivity (electro- and photochemical) and physical properties (electronic and magnetic) in metallosupramolecular complexes is a current challenge in supramolecular coordination chemistry, which lies at the interface of several other supramolecular disciplines, including electro-, photo-, and magnetochemistry. The specific control of current flow or spin delocalization through a molecular assembly in response to one or many input signals leads to the concept of developing a molecule-based spintronics that can be viewed as a potential alternative to the classical molecule-based electronics. A great variety of factors can influence over these electronically or magnetically coupled, metallosupramolecular complexes in a reversible manner, electronic or photonic external stimuli being the most promising ones. The response ability of the metal centers and/or the organic bridging ligands to the application of an electric field or light irradiation, together with the geometrical features that allow the precise positioning in space of substituent groups, make these metal-organic systems particularly suitable to build highly integrated molecular spintronic circuits. In this Account, we describe the chemistry and physics of dinuclear copper(II) metallacyclophanes with oxamato-containing dinucleating ligands featuring redox- and photoactive aromatic spacers. Our recent works on dicopper(II) metallacyclophanes and earlier ones on related organic cyclophanes are now compared in a critical manner. Special focus is placed on the ligand design as well as in the combination of experimental and computational methods to demonstrate the multifunctionality nature of these metallosupramolecular complexes. This new class of oxamato-based dicopper(II) metallacyclophanes affords an excellent synthetic and theoretical set of models for both chemical and physical fundamental studies on redox- and photo-triggered, long-distance electron exchange phenomena, which are two major topics in molecular magnetism and molecular electronics. Apart from their use as ground tests for the fundamental research on the relative importance of the spin delocalization and spin polarization mechanisms of the electron exchange interaction through extended π-conjugated aromatic ligands in polymetallic complexes, oxamato-based dicopper(II) metallacyclophanes possessing spin-containing electro- and chromophores at the metal and/or the ligand counterparts emerge as potentially active (magnetic and electronic) molecular components to build a metal-based spintronic circuit. They are thus unique examples of multifunctional magnetic complexes to get single-molecule spintronic devices by controlling and allowing the spin communication, when serving as molecular magnetic couplers and wires, or by exhibiting bistable spin behavior, when acting as molecular magnetic rectifiers and switches. Oxamato-based dicopper(II) metallacyclophanes also emerge as potential candidates for the study of coherent electron transport through single molecules, both experimentally and theoretically. The results presented herein, which are a first step in the metallosupramolecular approach to molecular spintronics, intend to attract the attention of physicists and materials scientists with a large expertice in the manipulation and measurement of single-molecule electron transport properties, as well as in the processing and addressing of molecules on different supports.

Selective Guest Inclusion in Oxalate-Based Iron(III) Magnetic Coordination Polymers.

The preparation and structural characterization of four novel oxalate-based iron(III) compounds of formulas {(MeNH3)2[Fe2(ox)2Cl4]·2.5H2O}n (1), K(MeNH3)[Fe(ox)Cl3(H2O)] (2), {MeNH3[Fe2(OH)(ox)2Cl2]·2H2O}n (3), and {(H3O)(MeNH3)[Fe2O(ox)2Cl2]·3H2O}n (4) (MeNH3+ = methylammonium cation and H2ox = oxalic acid) are reported here. 1 is an anionic waving chain of oxalato-bridged iron(III) ions with peripheral chloro ligands, the charge balance being ensured by methylammonium cations. 2 is a mononuclear complex with a bidentate oxalate, three terminal chloro ligands, and a coordinated water molecule achieving the six-coordination around each iron(III) ion. Its negative charge is balanced by potassium(I) and methylammonium cations. 3 and 4 are made up of oxalate-bridged and either hydroxo (3)- or oxo-bridged (4) iron(III) chiral three-dimensional (3D) networks of formulas [Fe2(OH)(ox)2Cl2]nn- (3) and [Fe2O(ox)2Cl2]n2n- (4) with methylammonium (3 and 4) and hydronium (4) as counterions. The common point these compounds share is related to their synthetic strategy, which consists of the use of mixed alkaline/alkylammonium cations as templating agents for the growth of the 1D or 3D iron(III) motifs. Interestingly, even in the presence of any given alkaline cation in the reaction solutions, the resulting coordination polymers (1, 3, and 4) exclusively contain the methylammonium cation, revealing the highly selective character of the 1D and 3D networks. Furthermore, the isolation of the very unstable compound 1 could be only achieved in the presence of the KCl salt, suggesting a probable templating effect of the potassium(I) cations. Finally, a study of the variable-temperature magnetic properties of the 3D compounds 3 and 4 showed the occurrence of weak ferromagnetic ordering due to a spin canting, the value of the critical temperature (Tc) being as high as 70 K.

Dicopper(II) Metallacyclophanes with N,N'-2,6-Pyridinebis(oxamate): Solution Study, Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Magnetic Properties.

The complexing ability of copper(II) in solution by the ligand N,N'-2,6-pyridinebis(oxamic acid) (H4mpyba, H4L) was determined through potentiometric and UV-vis spectroscopy at 25 °C and 0.15 M NaCl. The logarithms of the equilibrium constants for its copper(II) complexes according to the eqs 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(H2L)2], 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(H2L) (HL)] + H, 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(HL)2] + 2H, 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2(HL)(L)] + 3H, and 2H2L + 2Cu ⇆ [Cu2L2] + 4H were 12.02(7), 8.04(5), 1.26(6), -7.51(6), and -16.36(6), respectively. The knowledge of the solution behavior has supported the synthesis of three new compounds bearing the common building block Cu2L2(4-). Their formulas are (Me4N)4[Cu2(mpyba)2(H2O)2]·H2O (1), (Me4N)4[K2Na2Cu4(mpyba)4(H2O)6.8]·1.6H2O (2), and [Na6Cu2(mpyba)2Cl2(H2O)8]·7H2O (3) (Me4N(+) = tetramethylammonium cation). The [Cu2(mpyba)2(H2O)2](4-) tetraanionic unit, which is present in 1, has a [3,3] metallacyclophane-type motif connected by two N-Cu-N bonds. In 2, a heterotrimetallic decanuclear nanocage is formed through front-to-front assembly of two [Cu2(mpyba)2](4-) units, which also coordinate to potassium(I) and sodium(I) cations by means of carboxylate oxygens from oxamate. The structure of 3 consists of heterobimetallic layers of formula [Na6Cu2(mpyba)2Cl2(H2O)8] and crystallization water molecules, which are interlinked by hydrogen bonds leading to a supramolecular three-dimensional network. The investigation of the magnetic properties of 1-3 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of ferromagnetic interactions between the dicopper(II) metallacyclophane unit [J = +6.85 (1), +7.40 (2), and +7.90 cm(-1) (3); H = -JSCu1·SCu2, where SCu1 = SCu2 = 1/2]. Theoretical calculations on 1-3 were carried to substantiate the nature and magnitude of the involved magnetic interactions and to support the occurrence of a spin polarization mechanism accounting for them.