A Molybdenum Trioxide Hybrid Decorated by 3-(1,2,4-Triazol-4-yl)adamantane-1-carboxylic Acid: A Promising Reaction-Induced Self-Separating (RISS) Catalyst.

3-(1,2,4-Triazol-4-yl)adamantane-1-carboxylic acid (tradcH), a heterobifunctional organic ligand in which carboxylic acid and 1,2,4-triazole groups are united through a rigid 1,3-adamantanediyl spacer, was employed for the synthesis of a MoVI oxide organic hybrid. The ligand crystallized from water as tradcH·H2O (1), possessing a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network, and from ethanol as a cyclic molecular solvate with the composition (tradcH)3·2EtOH (2). Treatment of tradcH with MoO3 under hydrothermal conditions afforded a new Mo trioxide hybrid, [MoO3(tradcH)]·H2O (3), which was structurally characterized. In 3, the molybdenum atoms form a polymeric zigzag chain of {µ2-O-MoO2}n which is supported by double triazole bridges, while the carboxylic acid termini are left uncoordinated. The coordination environment of the Mo centers appears as distorted cis-{MoN2O4} octahedra. The hybrid exhibits high thermal stability (up to 270 °C) and was employed for a relatively broad scope of catalytic oxidation reactions in the liquid phase. Its catalytic behavior may be compared to a reversible mutation, featuring the best sides of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The original solid material converts into soluble active species, and the latter revert to the original material upon completion of the catalytic reaction, precipitating and allowing straightforward catalyst separation/reuse (like a heterogeneous catalyst). This catalyst was explored for a chemical reaction scope covering sulfoxidation, oxidative alcohol dehydrogenation, aldehyde oxidation, and olefin epoxidation, using hydrogen peroxide as an eco-friendly oxidant that gives water as a coproduct.

Interactions and Supramolecular Organization of Sulfonated Indigo and Thioindigo Dyes in Layered Hydroxide Hosts.

Supramolecularly organized host-guest systems have been synthesized by intercalating water-soluble forms of indigo (indigo carmine, IC) and thioindigo (thioindigo-5,5'-disulfonate, TIS) in zinc-aluminum-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and zinc-layered hydroxide salts (LHSs) by coprecipitation routes. The colors of the isolated powders were dark blue for hybrids containing only IC, purplish blue or dark lilac for cointercalated samples containing both dyes, and ruby/wine for hybrids containing only TIS. The as-synthesized and thermally treated materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, Fourier transform Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. The basal spacings found for IC-LDH, TIS-LDH, IC-LHS, and TIS-LHS materials were 21.9, 21.05, 18.95, and 21.00 Å, respectively, with intermediate spacings being observed for the cointercalated samples that either decreased (LDHs) or increased (LHSs) with increasing TIS content. UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopies (steady-state and time-resolved) were used to probe the molecular distribution of the immobilized dyes. The presence of aggregates together with the monomer units is suggested for IC-LDH, whereas for TIS-LDH, IC-LHS, and TIS-LHS, the dyes are closer to the isolated situation. Accordingly, while emission from the powder H2TIS is strongly quenched, an increment in the emission of about 1 order of magnitude was observed for the TIS-LDH/LHS hybrids. Double-exponential fluorescence decays were obtained and associated with two monomer species interacting differently with cointercalated water molecules. The incorporation of both TIS and IC in the LDH and LHS hosts leads to an almost complete quenching of the fluorescence, pointing to a very efficient energy transfer process from (fluorescent) TIS to (nonfluorescent) IC.

A Comparative Study of Molybdenum Carbonyl and Oxomolybdenum Derivatives Bearing 1,2,3-Triazole or 1,2,4-Triazoles in Catalytic Olefin Epoxidation.

The molybdenum(0)-carbonyl-triazole complexes [Mo(CO)3(L)3] [L = 1,2,3-triazole (1,2,3-trz) or 1,2,4-triazole (1,2,4-trz)] have been prepared and examined as precursors to molybdenum(VI) oxide catalysts for the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene. Reaction of the carbonyl complexes with the oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) (either separately or in situ) gives oxomolybdenum(VI) hybrid materials that are proposed to possess one-dimensional polymeric structures in which adjacent oxo-bridged dioxomolybdenum(VI) moieties are further linked by bidentate bridging triazole (trz) ligands. A pronounced ligand influence on catalytic performance was found and the best result (quantitative epoxide yield within 1 h at 70 °C) was obtained with the 1,2,3-triazole oxomolybdenum(VI) hybrid. Both molybdenum oxide-triazole compounds displayed superior catalytic performance in comparison with the known hybrid materials [MoO3(trz)0.5], which have different structures based on organic-inorganic perovskite-like layers. With aqueous H2O2 as the oxidant instead of TBHP, all compounds were completely soluble and active. A pronounced ligand influence on catalytic performance was only found for the hybrids [MoO3(trz)0.5], and only the 1,2,4-trz compound displayed reaction-induced self-precipitation behavior. An insight into the type of solution species that may be involved in the catalytic processes with these compounds was obtained by separately treating [MoO3(1,2,4-trz)0.5] with excess H2O2, which led to the crystallization of the complex (NH4)1.8(H3O)0.2[Mo2O2(µ2-O)(O2)4(1,2,4-trz)]·H2O. The single-crystal X-ray investigation of this complex reveals an oxo-bridged dinuclear structure with oxodiperoxo groups being further linked by a single triazole bridge.

Insights into the Photophysics and Supramolecular Organization of Congo Red in Solution and the Solid State.

Steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence measurements are reported for Congo Red (CR) in aqueous and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solutions. The very low fluorescence quantum yield (≈10-4 ) for CR in dilute solutions together with the absence of a triplet state indicates that internal conversion is the dominant deactivation route with more than 99.99 % of the quanta loss (attributed to the energy gap law for radiationless transitions). Although no direct evidence for trans-cis photoisomerization was obtained from absorption or fluorescence data, the global analysis of fs-transient absorption data indicates the presence of a photoproduct with a lifetime of ≈170 ps that is suggested to be associated with such a process. Spectral data for more concentrated CR solutions indicate the presence of oblique or twisted J-type aggregates. These results are compared with spectra for CR in the solid state (sodium salt) and intercalated in a layered double hydroxide via a one-step co-precipitation route. Powder XRD and electronic spectral data for the nanohybrid indicate that the CR guest molecules are intercalated as a monolayer consisting of slipped cofacial J-type aggregates.

Triazolyl, Imidazolyl, and Carboxylic Acid Moieties in the Design of Molybdenum Trioxide Hybrids: Photophysical and Catalytic Behavior.

Three organic ligands bearing 1,2,4-triazolyl donor moieties, (S)-4-(1-phenylpropyl)-1,2,4-triazole (trethbz), 4-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)benzoic acid (trPhCO2H), and 3-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)-2-(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)propionic acid (trhis), were prepared to evaluate their coordination behavior in the development of molybdenum(VI) oxide organic hybrids. Four compounds, [Mo2O6(trethbz)2]·H2O (1), [Mo4O12(trPhCO2H)2]·0.5H2O (2a), [Mo4O12(trPhCO2H)2]·H2O (2b), and [Mo8O25(trhis)2(trhisH)2]·2H2O (3), were synthesized and characterized. The monofunctional tr-ligand resulted in the formation of a zigzag chain [Mo2O6(trethbz)2] built up from cis-{MoO4N2} octahedra united through common µ2-O vertices. Employing the heterodonor ligand with tr/-CO2H functions afforded either layer or ribbon structures of corner- or edge-sharing {MoO5N} polyhedra (2a or 2b) stapled by tr-links in axial positions, whereas -CO2H groups remained uncoordinated. The presence of the im-heterocycle as an extra function in trhis facilitated formation of zwitterionic molecules with a protonated imidazolium group (imH+) and a negatively charged -CO2- group, whereas the tr-fragment was left neutral. Under the acidic hydrothermal conditions used, the organic ligand binds to molybdenum atoms either through [N-N]-tr or through both [N-N]-tr and µ2-CO2- units, which occur in protonated bidentate or zwitterionic tetradentate forms (trhisH+ and trhis, respectively). This leads to a new zigzag subtopological motif (3) of negatively charged polyoxomolybdate {Mo8O25}n2n- consisting of corner- and edge-sharing cis-{MoO4N2} and {MoO6} octahedra, while the tetradentate zwitterrionic trhis species connect these chains into a 2D net. Electronic spectra of the compounds showed optical gaps consistent with semiconducting behavior. The compounds were investigated as epoxidation catalysts via the model reactions of achiral and prochiral olefins (cis-cyclooctene and trans-ß-methylstyrene) with tert-butylhydroperoxide. The best-performing catalyst (1) was explored for the epoxidation of other olefins, including biomass-derived methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and prochiral dl-limonene.

Ferrocene and ferrocenium inclusion compounds with cucurbiturils: a study of metal atom dynamics probed by Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Temperature-dependent 57Fe Mössbauer effect (ME) spectroscopic studies were carried out on ferrocene (Fc), 1,1'-dimethylferrocene (1,1'(CH3)2Fc) and ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate (FcPF6) guest species in cucurbit[n]uril (n = 7, 8) inclusion complexes. The solid inclusion complexes were isolated by freeze-drying of dilute aqueous solutions and/or microwave-assisted precipitation from concentrated mixtures. The presence of genuine 1 : 1 (host : guest) inclusion complexes in the isolated solids was supported by liquid-state 1H and solid-state 13C{1H} MAS NMR, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, powder X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, and diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy. The ME spectra of the complexes CB7·Fc and CB7·1,1'(CH3)2Fc consist of well-resolved doublets with hyperfine parameters (isomer shift and quadrupole splitting at 90 K) and temperature-dependent recoil-free fraction data that are very similar to those for the neat parent compounds, Fc and 1,1'(CH3)2Fc, suggesting that the organometallic guest molecules do not interact significantly with the host environment over the experimental temperature range. The ME spectra for CB7·FcPF6 and CB8·FcPF6 consist of a major broad line resonance attributed to a paramagnetic FeIII site. From the temperature-dependence of the recoil-free fraction it is evident that the charged guest species in these systems interact with the host environment significantly more strongly than was observed in the case of the neutral guest species, Fc and 1,1'(CH3)2Fc. Moreover, the ME data indicate that the vibrational amplitude of the ferrocenium guest molecule is significantly larger in the CB8 host molecule than in the CB7 homologue, as expected on the basis of the different cavity sizes.

Catalytic alcoholysis of epoxides using metal-free cucurbituril-based solids.

Metal-free cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) solid-state assemblies promote acid-catalysed alcoholysis of aliphatic and aromatic epoxides under mild conditions to give ß-alkoxy alcohols, which are important intermediates for the synthesis of a vast range of compounds such as bioactive pharmaceuticals. The catalytic process is heterogeneous and the catalyst can be reused in consecutive runs without any reactivation treatment. The acid species responsible for the catalytic activity of CB7 may be entrapped hydronium ions.

An Indigo Carmine-Based Hybrid Nanocomposite with Supramolecular Control of Dye Aggregation and Photobehavior.

Zn-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing solely indigo carmine (IC) or 1-hexanesulfonate (HS) anions, or a mixture of the two with different HS/IC molar ratios, were prepared by the direct synthesis method and characterized by various techniques. Hydrotalcite-type phases were obtained with basal spacings of 17.6 Šfor the LDH intercalated by IC (IC-LDH) and 18.2-18.3 Šfor the other materials containing HS. From the basal spacing for IC-LDH and UV/Vis spectroscopic data, it is proposed that the dye molecules assemble within the interlayer galleries to form a J-type stacking arrangement. A comprehensive electronic spectral and photophysical study was undertaken for IC in solution and all materials, aiming to obtain a detailed characterization of the host-guest and guest-guest interactions. In solution (the solvent surrounded "isolated" molecule), IC presents a fast excited state proton transfer with rate constants of ∼1.2-1.4×10(11)  s(-1) , which is linked to the very efficient radiationless deactivation channel. In the solid state it is shown that incorporation of IC within the LDH decreases the level of aggregation, and that further addition of HS induces the appearance of isolated IC units within the LDH galleries. The indigo carmine-based nanocomposites reported constitute a step forward in the design of hybrid materials with tunable properties.

Controlling the fluorescence behavior of 1-pyrenesulfonate by cointercalation with a surfactant in a layered double hydroxide.

Zn-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing solely 1-pyrenesulfonate (PS) or 1-heptanesulfonate (HS) anions, or a mixture of the two with HS/PS molar ratios ranging between ca. 7.5 and 82, were prepared by the direct synthesis method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermal and elemental analyses, scanning electron microscopy, and FT-IR, FT-Raman, and (13)C{(1)H} CP MAS NMR spectroscopies. Well-ordered intercalates were obtained with basal spacings of 18.8 Šfor the LDH intercalated by PS and 19.2-19.4 Šfor the other materials containing HS. The photophysics of the solids, as well as the PS probe dissolved in water and common organic solvents (aiming to compare the behavior of the "isolated" molecule with that in the solid), were investigated by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence techniques. The fluorescence spectra of the solid samples display two bands with maxima at 376 and 495 nm. Depending on the HS/PS ratios, the band intensity ratio (obtained at 375 and 520 nm) changes, reflecting different contributions from monomer and dimer species. The decays collected at 375 nm are biexponentials with a major component (∼97% of the total fluorescence) of 105 ns for the highest HS/PS ratio, which further loses importance with an increase in the PS content. When the decays are collected at 480 and 520 nm, the fits are triexponentials with a major component varying from 108 to 124 ns, attributed to an excimer. Steady-state and time-resolved measurements with PS in solution (ethanol, methanol, DMF, DMSO, and water) were also measured, and a comparison of the vibronic I1/I3 ratio and lifetimes in water (65 ns) with those in the LDHs indicates that the PS probe in the cointercalated LDHs is surrounded by the HS surfactant.

Crystal Structure and Catalytic Behavior in Olefin Epoxidation of a One-Dimensional Tungsten Oxide/Bipyridine Hybrid.

The tungsten oxide/2,2'-bipyridine hybrid material [WO3(2,2'-bpy)]·nH2O (n = 1-2) (1) has been prepared in near quantitative yield by the reaction of H2WO4, 2,2'-bpy, and H2O in the mole ratio of ca. 1:2:700 at 160 °C for 98 h in a rotating Teflon-lined digestion bomb. The solid-state structure of 1 was solved and refined through Rietveld analysis of high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction data collected for the microcrystalline powder. The material, crystallizing in the orthorhombic space group Iba2, is composed of a one-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid polymer, ∞(1)[WO3(2,2'-bpy)], topologically identical to that found in the previously reported anhydrous phases [MO3(2,2'-bpy)] (M = Mo, W). While in the latter the N,N'-chelated 2,2'-bpy ligands of adjacent corner-shared {MO4N2} octahedra are positioned on the same side of the 1D chain, in 1 the 2,2'-bpy ligands alternate above and below the chain. The catalytic behavior of compound 1 for the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene was compared with that for several other tungsten- or molybdenum-based (pre)catalysts, including the hybrid polymer [MoO3(2,2'-bpy)]. While the latter exhibits superior performance when tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is used as the oxidant, compound 1 is superior when aqueous hydrogen peroxide is used, allowing near-quantitative conversion of the olefin to the epoxide. With H2O2, compounds 1 and [MoO3(2,2'-bpy)] act as sources of soluble active species, namely, the oxodiperoxo complex [MO(O2)2(2,2'-bpy)], which is formed in situ. Compounds 1 and [WO(O2)2(2,2'-bpy)] (2) were further tested in the epoxidation of cyclododecene, trans-2-octene, 1-octene, (R)-limonene, and styrene. The structure of 2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and found to be isotypical with the molybdenum analogue.

Synthesis and Structural Elucidation of Triazolylmolybdenum(VI) Oxide Hybrids and Their Behavior as Oxidation Catalysts.

A large family of bifunctional 1,2,4-triazole molecular tectons (tr) has been explored for engineering molybdenum(VI) oxide hybrid solids. Specifically, tr ligands bearing auxiliary basic or acidic groups were of the type amine, pyrazole, 1H-tetrazole, and 1,2,4-triazole. The organically templated molybdenum(VI) oxide solids with the general compositions [MoO3(tr)], [Mo2O6(tr)], and [Mo2O6(tr)(H2O)2] were prepared under mild hydrothermal conditions or by refluxing in water. Their crystal structures consist of zigzag chains, ribbons, or helixes of alternating cis-{MoO4N2} or {MoO5N} polyhedra stapled by short [N-N]-tr bridges that for bitriazole ligands convert the motifs into 2D or 3D frameworks. The high thermal (235-350 °C) and chemical stability observed for the materials makes them promising for catalytic applications. The molybdenum(VI) oxide hybrids were successfully explored as versatile oxidation catalysts with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) or aqueous H2O2 as an oxygen source, at 70 °C. Catalytic performances were influenced by the different acidic-basic properties and steric hindrances of coordinating organic ligands as well as the structural dimensionality of the hybrid.

Synthesis, structural elucidation, and catalytic properties in olefin epoxidation of the polymeric hybrid material [Mo3O9(2-[3(5)-pyrazolyl]pyridine)]n.

The reaction of [MoO2Cl2(pzpy)] (1) (pzpy = 2-[3(5)-pyrazolyl]pyridine) with water in an open reflux system (16 h), in a microwave synthesis system (120 °C, 2 h), or in a Teflon-lined stainless steel digestion bomb (100 °C, 19 h) gave the molybdenum oxide/pyrazolylpyridine polymeric hybrid material [Mo3O9(pzpy)]n (2) as a microcrystalline powder in yields of 72­79%. Compound 2 can also be obtained by the hydrothermal reaction of MoO3, pzpy, and H2O at 160 °C for 3 d. Secondary products isolated from the reaction solutions included the salt (pzpyH)2(MoCl4) (3) (pzpyH = 2-[3(5)-pyrazolyl]pyridinium), containing a very rare example of the tetrahedral MoCl4(2­) anion, and the tetranuclear compound [Mo4O12(pzpy)4] (4). Reaction of 2 with excess tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) led to the isolation of the oxodiperoxo complex [MoO(O2)2(pzpy)] (5). Single-crystal X-ray structures of 3 and 5 are described. Fourier transform (FT)-IR and FT Raman spectra for 1, 4, and 5 were assigned based on density functional theory calculations. The structure of 2 was determined from synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data in combination with other physicochemical information. In 2, a hybrid organic­inorganic one-dimensional (1D) polymer, ∞(1)[Mo3O9(pzpy)], is formed by the connection of two very distinct components: a double ladder-type inorganic core reminiscent of the crystal structure of MoO3 and 1D chains of corner-sharing distorted {MoO4N2} octahedra. Compound 2 exhibits moderate activity and high selectivity when used as a (pre)catalyst for the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene with TBHP. Under the reaction conditions used, 2 is poorly soluble and is gradually converted into 5, which is at least partly responsible for the catalytic reaction.

Triazolyl-based copper-molybdate hybrids: from composition space diagram to magnetism and catalytic performance.

The multicomponent mixed-metal Cu(II)/Mo(VI) oxides/1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)adamantane (tr2ad) system was thoroughly studied employing a compositional diagram approach. The concept allowed us to prepare three layered copper-molybdate hybrid solids [Cu(II)2(tr2ad)4](Mo8O26) (1), [Cu4(II)(µ4-O)(tr2ad)2(MoO4)3]·7.5H2O (2), and [Cu(I)2(tr2ad)2](Mo2O7)·H2O (3), and to elucidate the relationship between initial reagent concentration/stoichiometry and the stability of the resultant structural motifs. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to dominate throughout a wide crystallization range of the concentration triangle, whereas compound 3 was formed by redox processes in the narrow crystallization area having a high excess of Cu(OAc)2·H2O. Independent experiments carried out with Cu(OAc)2 and (NH4)6Mo7O24 in the absence of tr2ad, under the same conditions, revealed the formation of low-valent and bimetallic oxides, including Cu2O, MoO2, Cu(Mo3O10)·H2O, and Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2. Compounds 1 and 2 show high thermal and chemical stability as examined as catalysts in the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene and the oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BzOH) with different types of oxidants. The oxidation reaction of BzOH using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant, in the presence of 1 or 2, led to benzaldehyde and benzoic acid (PhCO2H), with the latter being formed in up to 90% yield at 24 h. The results suggest that 1 and 2 may be favorable heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of PhCO2H. Whereas compound 1 only reveals a weak ferromagnetic coupling between neighboring Cu(II) centers (J = 0.41 cm(-1)), compound 2 shows distinct intracluster antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (J = -29.9 cm(-1), J' = -25.7 cm(-1)), which consequently results in a diamagnetic ground state.

An organic-organometallic CO-releasing material comprising 4,4'-bipyridine and molybdenum subcarbonyl building blocks.

Over the past two decades, following the discovery of the important biological roles of carbon monoxide (CO), metal carbonyl complexes have been intensively studied as CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) for therapeutic applications. To improve the properties of "bare" low molecular weight CORMs, attention has been drawn to conjugating CORMs with macromolecular and inorganic scaffolds to produce CO-releasing materials (CORMAs) capable of storing and delivering large payloads of the gasotransmitter. A significant obstacle is to obtain CORMAs that retain the beneficial features of the parent CORMs. In the present work, a crystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) formulated as Mo(CO)3(4,4'-bipyridine)3/2 (Mobpy), with a structure based on Mo(CO)3 metallic nodes and bipyridine linkers, has been prepared in near quantitative yield by a straightforward reflux method, and found to exhibit CO-release properties that mimic those typically observed for molybdenum carbonyl CORMs. Mobpy was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT-IR, FT-Raman and diffuse reflectance (DR) UV-vis spectroscopies, and 13C{1H} cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. The release of CO from Mobpy was studied by the deoxy-myoglobin (deoxy-Mb)/carbonmonoxy-myoglobin (MbCO) UV-vis assay. Mobpy liberates CO upon contact with a physiological buffer in the dark, leading to a maximum released amount of 1.3-1.5 mmol g-1, after 1.5 h at 37 °C, with half-lives of 0.5-1.0 h (time to transfer 0.5 equiv. of CO to Mb). In the solid-state and under open air, Mobpy undergoes complete decarbonylation over a period of 42 days, corresponding to a theoretical CO-release of 7.25 mmol g-1.

Hydrothermal synthesis, crystal structure, and catalytic potential of a one-dimensional molybdenum oxide/bipyridinedicarboxylate hybrid.

The reaction of MoO3, 2,2'-bipyridine-5,5-dicarboxylic acid (H2bpdc), water, and dimethylformamide in the mole ratio 1:1:1730:130 at 150 °C for 3 days in a rotating Teflon-lined digestion bomb leads to the isolation of the molybdenum oxide/bipyridinedicarboxylate hybrid material (DMA)[MoO3(Hbpdc)]·nH2O (1) (DMA = dimethylammonium). Compound 1 was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, FT-IR and (13)C{(1)H} CP MAS NMR spectroscopies, and elemental and thermogravimetric analyses. The solid state structure of 1 was solved and refined through Rietveld analysis of high resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data in conjunction with information derived from the above techniques. The material, crystallizing in the noncentrosymmetric monoclinic space group Pc, is composed of an anionic one-dimensional organic-inorganic hybrid polymer, ∞(1)[MoO3(Hbpdc)](-), formed by corner-sharing distorted {MoO4N2} octahedra, which cocrystallizes with charge-balancing DMA(+) cations and one water molecule per metal center. In the crystal structure of 1, the close packing of individual anionic polymers, DMA(+) cations, and water molecules is mediated by a series of supramolecular contacts, namely strong (O-H···O, N(+)-H···O(-)) and weak (C-H···O) hydrogen bonding interactions, and π-π contacts involving adjacent coordinated Hbpdc(-) ligands. The catalytic potential of 1 was investigated in the epoxidation reactions of the bioderived olefins methyl oleate (Ole) and DL-limonene (Lim) using tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxygen donor and 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) or (trifluoromethyl)benzene (BTF) as cosolvent, at 55 or 75 °C. Under these conditions, 1 acts as a source of active soluble species, leading to epoxide yields of up to 98% for methyl 9,10-epoxystearate (BTF, 75 °C, 100% conversion of Ole) and 89% for 1,2-epoxy-p-menth-8-ene (DCE, 55 °C, 95% conversion of Lim). Catalytic systems employing the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide as solvent could be effectively recycled.

Tricarbonyl-Pyrazine-Molybdenum(0) Metal-Organic Frameworks for the Storage and Delivery of Biologically Active Carbon Monoxide.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have high potential as nanoplatforms for the storage and delivery of therapeutic gasotransmitters or gas-releasing molecules. The aim of the present study was to open an investigation into the viability of tricarbonyl-pyrazine-molybdenum(0) MOFs as carbon monoxide-releasing materials (CORMAs). A previous investigation found that the reaction of Mo(CO)6 with excess pyrazine (pyz) in a sealed ampoule gave a mixture comprising a major triclinic phase with pyz-occupied hexagonal channels, formulated as fac-Mo(CO)3(pyz)3/2·1/2pyz (Mo-hex), and a minor dense cubic phase, formulated as fac-Mo(CO)3(pyz)3/2 (Mo-cub). In the present work, an open reflux method in toluene has been optimized for the large-scale synthesis of the pure Mo-cub phase. The crystalline solids Mo-hex and Mo-cub were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT-IR and FT-Raman spectroscopies, and 13C{1H} cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy. The release of CO from the MOFs was studied by the deoxy-myoglobin (deoxy-Mb)/carbonmonoxy-myoglobin (MbCO) UV-vis assay. Mo-hex and Mo-cub release CO upon contact with a physiological buffer in the dark, delivering 0.35 and 0.22 equiv (based on Mo), respectively, after 24 h, with half-lives of 3-4 h. Both materials display high photostability such that the CO-releasing kinetics is not affected by irradiation of the materials with UV light. These materials are attractive as potential CORMAs due to the slow release of a high CO payload. In the solid-state and under open air, Mo-cub underwent almost complete decarbonylation over a period of 4 days, corresponding to a theoretical CO release of 10 mmol per gram of material.

An octanuclear molybdenum(VI) complex containing coordinatively bound 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, [Mo8O22(OH)4(di-tBu-bipy)4]: synthesis, structure, and catalytic epoxidation of bio-derived olefins.

The reaction of [MoO(2)Cl(2)(di-tBu-bipy)] (1) (di-tBu-bipy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) with water at 100-120 °C in a Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave, in an open reflux system, or in a microwave synthesis system gave the octanuclear complex [Mo(8)O(22)(OH)(4)(di-tBu-bipy)(4)] (2) as a microcrystalline powder in good yields. Single crystals of 2 suitable for X-ray diffraction were obtained by the reaction of MoO(3) and di-tBu-bipy in water at 160 °C for 3 days. The molecular structure of 2 comprises a purely inorganic core, Mo(4)O(8)(µ(3)-OH)(2)(µ(2)-O)(2), attached to two peripheral oxo-bridged binuclear units, Mo(2)O(4)(µ(2)-O)(2)(OH)(di-tBu-bipy)(2). The inorganic core is composed of a unique assembly of four {MoO(5)} distorted square pyramids connected to each other via edge-sharing. Overall, the octanuclear complex adopts a highly distorted form strongly resembling an "S"-shaped molecular unit. Complex 2 was applied in the catalytic epoxidation of the biorenewable olefins DL-limonene (Lim) and methyl oleate (Ole), using tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxygen donor, under mild reaction conditions (55 °C, air). The reactions of Lim and Ole gave the respective epoxide monomers in fairly high selectivities at high conversions (89% 1,2-epoxy-p-menth-8-ene selectivity at 96% Lim conversion; 99% methyl 9,10-epoxystearate selectivity at 94% Ole conversion, reached within 24 h reaction). Iodometric titrations revealed no measurable "non-productive" decomposition of TBHP.

Synthesis, structural elucidation, and application of a pyrazolylpyridine-molybdenum oxide composite as a heterogeneous catalyst for olefin epoxidation.

The reaction of [MoO(2)Cl(2)(pypzEA)] (1) (pypzEA = ethyl[3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetate) with water in a Teflon-lined stainless steel autoclave (100 °C) or in an open reflux system leads to the isolation of the molybdenum oxide/pyrazolylpyridine composite material [Mo(2)O(6)(HpypzA)] (2; HpypzA = [3-(pyridinium-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]acetate). The solid state structure of 2 was solved through single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses in conjunction with information derived from FT-IR and (13)C CP MAS NMR spectroscopies and elemental analyses. In the asymmetric unit of 2, two crystallographically distinct Mo(6+) centers are bridged by a syn,syn-carboxylate group of HpypzA. The periodic repetition of these units along the a axis of the unit cell leads to the formation of a one-dimensional composite polymer, (∞)(1)[Mo(2)O(6)(HpypzA)]. The outstretched pyrazolylpyridine groups of adjacent polymers interdigitate to form a zipper-like motif, generating strong onset π-π contacts between adjacent rings of coordinated HpypzA molecules. The composite oxide 2 is a stable heterogeneous catalyst for liquid-phase olefin epoxidation.

A novel dinuclear MoVI complex with tris(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methane.

Recrystallization of [MoO(2)Cl{HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)}]Cl [where HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3) is tris(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methane] led to the isolation of large quantities of the dinuclear complex dichlorido-2κ(2)Cl-µ-oxido-κ(2)O:O-tetraoxido-1κ(2)O,2κ(2)O-[tris(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl-1κN(2))methane]dimolybdenum(IV) acetonitrile monosolvate, [Mo(2)Cl(2)O(4)(C(16)H(22)N(6))]·CH(3)CN or [{MoO(2)Cl(2)}(µ(2)-O){MoO(2)[HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)]}]·CH(3)CN. At 150 K, this complex cocrystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcm with an acetonitrile molecule. The complex has mirror symmetry: only half of the complex constitutes the asymmetric unit and all the heavy elements (namely Mo and Cl) are located on the mirror plane. The acetonitrile molecule also lies on a mirror plane. The two crystallographically independent Mo(6+) centres have drastically different coordination environments: while one Mo atom is hexacoordinated and chelated to HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3) (which occupies one face of the octahedron), the other Mo atom is instead pentacoordinated, having two chloride anions in the apical positions of the distorted trigonal bipyramid. This latter coordination mode of Mo(VI) was found to be unprecedented. Individual complexes and solvent molecules are close-packed in the solid state, mediated by various supramolecular contacts.

[(E)-1-(Naph-thalen-2-yl)ethyl-idene](naph-thalen-1-ylmethyl)amine.

The title compound, C(23)H(19)N, was obtained unexpectedly from the reaction of [Eu(nta)(3)(PzPy)] {Hnta = 1-(2-naphtho-yl)-3,3,3-trifluoro-acetone and PzPy = 2-[3(5)-pyrazol-yl]pyridine} with 1-naphthyl-methyl-amine. The 1- and 2-naphthyl groups are essentially planar [r.m.s. deviations of 0.007 and 0.011 Å, respectively] and subtend angles of 38.69 (11) and 16.50 (11)°, respectively, with the central CH(3)-C=N-CH(2) unit, which is also almost planar [r.m.s. deviation = 0.002 Å]. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are disposed in zigzag-type fashion, forming layers perpendicular to [100]. Weak supra-molecular C-H⋯π inter-actions contribute to the packing forces.