Stellated cuboctahedron of FeIII.

The solvothermal reaction of FeCl2·4H2O and H4TBC[4] in a basic dmf/EtOH solution affords an [FeIII18] Keplerate conforming to a stellated cuboctahedron. Magnetic measurements reveal spin frustration effects arising from the high symmetry.

Tandem templating strategies facilitate the assembly of calix[8]arene-supported Ln18 clusters.

Calix[n]arenes offer ideal chemical functionality through the polyphenolic lower rim to construct nano-sized coordination clusters with lanthanide (Ln) metal ions (e.g., NdIII10, GdIII8). However, the number of metal centers they can accommodate is still limited compared to that achievable with smaller ligands (e.g., GdIII140, GdIII104). Here, we exploit a combination of the "anion template strategy" and "templating ligands" to synthesise three highly symmetric (D3h, trigonal planar) LnIII18 (Ln = La, Nd, and Gd) systems, representing the largest calix[n]arene-based coordination clusters yet. The LnIII18 fragment is templated by a chloride anion located at the center of the cluster, wherefrom twelve µ3-OH- ligands bind 'internally' to the eighteen LnIII ions. 'Externally' the metallic skeleton is connected by p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene, oxo, chloro and carbonate ligands. The crystal packing in the lattice reveals large cylindrical channels of ∼26 Å in diameter, whose pore volume corresponds to ∼50% of the unit cell volume (using a 1.2 Å spherical probe radius). Magnetic measurements reveal the predominance of weak antiferromagnetic exchange in the Gd analog. Heat capacity data of GdIII18 reveal a high magnetic entropy with -ΔSm = 23.7 J K-1 kg-1, indicating potential for engineering magnetic refrigerant materials with calix[8]arenes.

Redox-Controlled Self-Assembly of Vanadium-Seamed Hexameric Pyrogallol[4]Arene Nanocapsules.

Here we report the controlled self-assembly of vanadium-seamed metal-organic nanocapsules with specific metal oxidation state distributions. Three supramolecular assemblies composed of the same numbers of components including 24 metal centers and six pyrogallol[4]arene ligands were constructed: a VIII24L6 capsule, a mixed-valence VIII18VIV6L6 capsule, and a VIV24L6 capsule. Crystallographic studies of the new capsules reveal their remarkable structural complexity and geometries, while marked differences in metal oxidation state distribution greatly affect the photoelectric conversion properties of these assemblies. This work therefore represents a significant step forward in the construction of intricate metal-organic architectures with tailored structure and functionality.

A bis-calix[4]arene-supported [CuII16] cage.

Reaction of 2,2'-bis-p-tBu-calix[4]arene (H8L) with Cu(NO3)2·3H2O and N-methyldiethanolamine (Me-deaH2) in a basic dmf/MeOH mixture affords [CuII16(L)2(Me-dea)4(µ4-NO3)2(µ-OH)4(dmf)3.5(MeOH)0.5(H2O)2](H6L)·16dmf·4H2O (4), following slow evaporation of the mother liquor. The central core of the metallic skeleton describes a tetracapped square prism, [Cu12], in which the four capping metal ions are the CuII ions housed in the calix[4]arene polyphenolic pockets. The [CuII8] square prism is held together "internally" by a combination of hydroxide and nitrate anions, with the N-methyldiethanolamine co-ligands forming dimeric [CuII2] units which edge-cap above and below the upper and lower square faces of the prism. Charge balance is maintained through the presence of one doubly deprotonated H6L2- ligand per [Cu16] cluster. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the predominance of strong antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and an S = 1 ground state, while EPR is consistent with a large zero-field splitting.

A copper-seamed coordination nanocapsule as a semiconductor photocatalyst for molecular oxygen activation.

Here we report that a Cu2+-seamed coordination nanocapsule can serve as an efficient semiconductor photocatalyst for molecular oxygen activation. This capsule was constructed through a redox reaction facilitated self-assembly of cuprous bromide and C-pentyl-pyrogallol[4]arene. Photophysical and electrochemical studies revealed its strong visible-light absorption and photocurrent polarity switching effect. This novel molecular solid material is capable of activating molecular oxygen into reactive oxygen species under simulated sunlight irradiation. The oxygen activation process has been exploited for catalyzing aerobic oxidation reactions. The present work provides new insights into designing nonporous discrete metal-organic supramolecular assemblies for solar-driven molecular oxygen activation.

Engineered MOF-Enzyme Nanocomposites for Tumor Microenvironment-Activated Photodynamic Therapy with Self-Luminescence and Oxygen Self-Supply.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. However, its efficiency is hindered by three key parameters, namely, limited penetration depth of external light, tumor hypoxia, and self-aggregation of photosensitizers. Herein, we fabricated a novel "all-in-one" chemiluminescence-PDT nanosystem through the integration of an oxygen-supplying protein (hemoglobin, Hb) and a luminescent donor (luminol, Lum) in hierarchically engineered mesoporous porphyrinic metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles. Mechanistically, the in situ chemiluminescence of Lum is activated by the high concentration of H2O2 in 4T1 cancer cells and further catalyzed by Hb and then absorbed by the porphyrin ligands in MOF nanoparticles through chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer. The excited porphyrins then sensitize oxygen supplied by Hb to produce sufficient reactive oxygen species that kill cancer cells. The MOF-based nanocomposite demonstrates excellent anticancer activity both in vitro and in vivo, with eventually a 68.1% tumor inhibition rate after intravenous injections without external light irradiation. This self-illuminating, oxygen-self-supplying nanosystem integrates all essential components of PDT into one simple nanoplatform, demonstrating great potential for the selective phototherapy of deep-seated cancer.

A {Gd12Na6} Molecular Quadruple-Wheel with a Record Magnetocaloric Effect at Low Magnetic Fields and Temperatures.

Reaction of Gd(OAc)3·4H2O, salicylaldehyde and CH3ONa in MeCN/MeOH affords [Gd12Na6(OAc)25(HCO2)5(CO3)6(H2O)12]·9H2O.0.5MeCN (1·9H2O.0.5MeCN), whose structure describes a quadruple-wheel consisting of two {Na3} and two {Gd6} rings. The magnetic properties of 1 reveal very weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the GdIII ions, which give rise to a record magnetocaloric effect at low applied magnetic fields and low temperatures. The magnetic entropy change reaches -ΔSm= 29.3 J kg-1 K-1 for full demagnetization from B = 1 T at T = 0.5 K.

Regioselective electrophilic aromatic borylation as a method for synthesising sterically hindered benzothiadiazole fluorophores.

Regioselective stepwise phenylation of 4,7-diarylbenzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole fluorophores has been achieved through a facile one-pot, three-step synthetic strategy involving sequential borylation, hydroxydechlorination and Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Crucial to the selectivity was the use of BCl3 to regioselectively install a boronic acid group in the ortho-position of only one of the diaryl groups. The subsequent introduction of ortho-phenyl groups through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling gave rise to twisted structures with hindered intramolecular rotation, providing a structural lever with which the fluorophore absorption and emission properties could be adjusted.

Controlled Hydrolysis of Phosphate Esters: A Route to Calixarene-Supported Rare-Earth Clusters.

Phosphate ester bonds are widely present in nature (e. g. DNA/RNA) and can be extremely stable against hydrolysis without the help of catalysts. Previously, we showed how the combination of phosphoryl and calix[4]arene moieties in the same organic framework (LPO ) allows isolation of single lanthanide (Ln) metal ions as [LnIII (LPO )2 ](O3 SCF3 )3 . Here we report how by controlling the reaction conditions a new hydrolyzed phosphoryl-calix[4]arene ligand (H3 LHPO ) is formed as a result of LnIII -mediated P-OEt bond cleavage in three out of the eight possible sites in LPO . The chelating nature of H3 LHPO traps the LnIII species in the form of [LnIII (LHPO )((EtO)2 P(O)OH)]2 dimers (Ln=La, Dy, Tb, Gd), where the Dy derivative shows slow magnetization relaxation. The strategy presented herein could be extended to access a broader library of hydrolyzed platforms (Hx LHPO ; x=1-8) that may represent mimics of nuclease enzymes.

A ferromagnetically coupled pseudo-calixarene [Co16] wheel that self-assembles as a tubular network of capsules.

Reaction of Co(OAc)2·4H2O and Hsal in a basic MeCN solution affords the hexadecanuclear wheel [Co16(sal)16(OAc)16]·16MeCN (1·16MeCN) that displays ferromagnetic nearest neighbour exchange and has pseudo-calixarene character. Symmetry equivalent wheels self-assemble to form remarkable tubular networks of capsules in the extended structure.

Constructing "Closed" and "Open" {Mn8} Clusters.

Use of the 1,3,5-tri(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane ligand, LH3, in manganese chemistry affords access to two structurally related {Mn8} clusters: a "closed" {MnIII 6MnII 2} puckered square wheel of formula [Mn8L2(LH)O3(OH)2(MeO)2Br(imH)(H2O)3](Br)3 (1; imH = imidazole) and an "open" {MnIII 8} rod of formula [MnΙΙΙ 8L2O4(aibH)2(aib)2(MeO)6(MeOH)2](NO3)2 (2, aibH = 2-amino-isobutyric acid). In each case the triaza ligands, L/LH, direct the formation of {Mn3} triangles with their N atoms preferentially bonding to the Jahn-Teller axes of the MnIII ions. Subsequent self-assembly is dependent on the anion of the Mn salt and the identity of the organic coligand employed-the terminally bonded imidazole and the chelating/bridging amino acid. The {Mn3} triangles fold up on themselves in 1, forming a wheel. However, the syn, syn-bridging carboxylates in 2 prevent this from happening, instead directing the formation of a linear rod. Magnetic susceptibility and magnetization measurements reveal competing ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions in both complexes, the exchange being somewhat weaker in 1 due to the presence of MnII ions.

Correction: The coordination chemistry of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with paramagnetic transition and lanthanide metal ions: an Edinburgh Perspective.

Correction for 'The coordination chemistry of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with paramagnetic transition and lanthanide metal ions: an Edinburgh Perspective' by Lucinda R. B. Wilson et al., Dalton Trans., 2022, DOI: 10.1039/d2dt00152g.

Hybrid lanthanide double-deckers based on calixarene and polyoxometalate units.

Complementarity of calixarene (H2L) and polyoxometalate ligands results in the first organic-inorganic [MIIIL{Mo5O13(OMe)4(NO)}]2- (M = Y, Gd and Dy) hybrid, directing the formation of a distorted square-antiprismatic MO8 ligand field and resulting in slow relaxation of the magnetisation for the Dy derivative.

Facile synthetic routes to bridge-functionalised calix[4]arenes.

Ring-opening of furans at the equatorial methylene bridge positions of a calix[4]arene gives access to a range of new molecules (in good yield) that have widespread potential impact in supramolecular chemistry amongst other areas.

The coordination chemistry of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene with paramagnetic transition and lanthanide metal ions: an Edinburgh Perspective.

The calix[4]arene scaffold is an extremely versatile supramolecular platform that has found widespread use across many research areas due to its synthetic versatility, controllable conformation, and the presence of cavities or clefts for tailorable guest binding. The tetraphenolic lower-rim of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in the cone conformation is ideal for binding a variety of paramagnetic transition and lanthanide metals, and in this Perspective we review our endeavours in using such complexes as metalloligands in the synthesis of polymetallic clusters that have fascinating structural and magnetic properties. By varying reactants, stoichiometries and reaction or crystallisation conditions it is possible to access an incredible range of clusters, all of which show consistent trends in coordination preferences and assembly behaviours. p-tert-Butylcalix[4]arene has already given so much, yet it is likely that this remarkable parent calixarene will continue to surprise chemists and deliver even more in terms of novelty and function.

Oxidation state variation in bis-calix[4]arene supported decametallic Mn clusters.

The reaction of MnCl2·4H2O, H8L (2,2'-bis-p-tBu-calix[4]arene) and NEt3 in a dmf/MeOH solvent mixture results in the formation of a mixed valent decametallic cluster of formula [MnII6MnIII4(L)2(µ3-OH)4(µ-OH)4(MeOH)4(dmf)4(MeCN)2]·MeCN (3). Complex 3 crystallises in the monoclinic space group P21/n with the asymmetric unit comprising half of the compound. Structure solution reveals that the bis-calix[4]arene ligands are arranged such that one TBC[4] moiety in each has undergone inversion in order to accommodate a [MnIII4MnII6] metallic skeleton that describes three vertex-sharing [MnIII2MnII2] butterflies. The structure is closely related to the species [MnIII6MnII4(L)2(µ3-O)2(µ3-OH)2(µ-OMe)4(H2O)4(dmf)8]·4dmf (4), the major difference being the oxidation level of the Mn ions in the core of the compound. DFT calculations on the full structures reveal that replacing the MnIII ions in 4 for MnII ions in 3 results in a significant decrease in the magnitude of some antiferromagnetic exchange contributions, a switch from ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic in others, and the loss of significant spin frustration.

Phosphorylated-calix[4]arene double-deckers of single rare earth metal ions.

Combination of phosphoryl and calix[4]arene moieties in the same organic framework (LPO) directs the formation of homoleptic double-decker complexes [LnIII(LPO)2](OTf)3 for Ln = Tb and Dy, with the latter displaying slow relaxation of the magnetisation.

Exploiting complementary ligands for the construction of square antiprismatic monometallic lanthanide SMMs.

The methylation of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene in the distal 1,3-phenolic sites provides the ligand H2L = {p-tert-butylcalix[4](OMe)2(OH)2arene} that enables construction of heteroleptic mononuclear lanthanide complexes. The reaction of (N(nBu)4)(acac) (Hacac = acetylacetone), MIIICl3 and H2L under Schlenk conditions results in the formation of a family of (N(nBu)4)[MIIIL(acac)2] complexes where M = Y (1), Gd (2), Tb (3) and Dy (4). The metal ions are eight-coordinate in distorted square-antiprismatic coordination geometries, resulting in slow relaxation of the magnetisation for the Tb derivative.

One-Pot Fabrication of Hollow Porphyrinic MOF Nanoparticles with Ultrahigh Drug Loading toward Controlled Delivery and Synergistic Cancer Therapy.

Hollow nanostructures have attracted significant research interest in drug delivery systems due to their high capacities for drug loading and unique physicochemical properties, showing great potential in specific biomedical applications. Herein, hollow porphyrinic metal-organic framework (H-PMOF) nanoparticles with a mesoporous spherical shell have been fabricated via a facile self-sacrificial ZIF-8 nanoparticle template strategy. The H-PMOF nanoplatform not only demonstrates a greatly enhanced photodynamic therapy efficacy compared with nonhollow porphyrinic MOF nanoparticles but also can be used as a superior drug carrier to co-load doxorubicin (DOX) and indocyanine green (ICG) with an ultrahigh drug-loading capacity of 635%. Furthermore, cancer cell membrane camouflage of the (DOX and ICG)@H-PMOF composite nanoparticles affords a biomimetic nanoplatform, that is, (DOX and ICG)@H-PMOF@mem (DIHPm for short), with an outstanding homologous tumor-targeting and immune-escaping ability. Interestingly, DIHPm shows both pH-controlled and near-infrared laser-triggered DOX release. Both in vitro and in vivo studies of DIHPm demonstrate an excellent imaging-guided synergistic photodynamic/photothermal/chemotherapy anticancer activity with negligible systemic toxicity. The development of the high-performance H-PMOF nanoplatform provides new insights into the design of MOF-based multifunctional nanomedicines for combination cancer therapy and precise theranostics.

Self-Assembly of a Semiconductive and Photoactive Heterobimetallic Metal-Organic Capsule.

We report the synthesis of a novel metal-organic capsule constructed from six pyrogallol[4]arene macrocycles, which are switched together by 16 FeIII and 16 CoII ions. This supramolecular structure is the first instance of a spheroidal heterometallic nanocage assembled through a one-step metal-ligand coordination approach. This new assembly also demonstrates an important proof of concept through the formation of multiple heterometallic metal-metal interactions within the capsule framework. Photophysical and electrochemical studies of self-assembled capsule films indicate their potential as semiconductors. These materials display unexpected photoelectric conversion properties, thus representing an emergent phenomenon in discrete metal-organic supramolecular assemblies.