Tuning the Condensation Degree of {FeIIIn} Oxo Clusters via Ligand Metathesis, Temperature, and Solvents.

Trinuclear µ3-oxo-centered iron(III) isobutyrate clusters readily react with polyalcohol organic ligands under one-pot synthesis conditions. Depending on the ligand, solvent, and temperature, a range of hexa-, dodeca-, and doicosanuclear iron(III) oxo-hydroxo condensation products, isolated as (mdeaH3)2[Fe6O(thme)4Cl6]·0.5(MeCN)·0.5(H2O) (1), [Fe12O4(OH)2(teda)4(N3)4(MeO)4]N3(NO3)0.5(MeO)0.5·2.5(H2O) (2), [Fe12O6(teda)4Cl8]·6(CHCl3) (3), [Fe22O16(OH)2(O2CCHMe2)18(bdea)6(EtO)2(H2O)2]·2(EtOH)·5(MeCN)·6(H2O) (4), and [Fe22O14(OH)4(O2CCHMe2)18(mdea)6(EtO)2(H2O)2](NO3)2·EtOH·H2O (5), where tedaH4 = N, N, N', N'-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine; thmeH3 = 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)ethane; mdeaH2 = N-methyldiethanolamine; and bdeaH2 = N-butyldiethanolamine. Complete carboxylate metathesis in the {Fe3} precursor complexes by thme3- or teda4- and the agglomeration of the formed species under solvothermal conditions afforded carboxylate-free {Fe6} product (1) in MeCN/CH2Cl2 or {Fe12} complexes (2 and 3) in MeOH/EtOH and CHCl3/thf, respectively (thf = tetrahydrofuran). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that 1 contains a [Fe6O(thme)4Cl6]2- cluster anion with a Lindqvist-type {Fe6(µ6-O)} core motif, charge-compensated by two protonated mdeaH3+ cations. 2 comprises a [Fe12O4(OH)2(teda)4(N3)4(MeO)4]2+ cation with a {Fe12O4(OH)2}26+ core, whereas 3 contains a charge-neutral [Fe12O6(teda)4(Cl)8] complex with an {Fe12O6}24+ core. Finally, employing flexible bdeaH2 or mdeaH2 ligands under soft reaction conditions afforded giant {Fe22} oxo-hydroxo complexes (4 and 5) with a central {Fe6} layer sandwiched between two outer {Fe8} groups. Magnetic studies of 1-5 revealed strong antiferromagnetic coupling between the FeIII spin centers in all clusters.

Ultralarge 3d/4f Coordination Wheels: From Carboxylate/Amino Alcohol-Supported {Fe4Ln2} to {Fe18Ln6} Rings.

A family of wheel-shaped charge-neutral heterometallic {FeIII4LnIII2}- and {FeIII18MIII6}-type coordination clusters demonstrates the intricate interplay of solvent effects and structure-directing roles of semiflexible bridging ligands. The {Fe4Ln2}-type compounds [Fe4Ln2(O2CCMe3)6(N3)4(Htea)4]·2(EtOH), Ln = Dy (1a), Er (1b), Ho (1c); [Fe4Tb2(O2CCMe3)6(N3)4(Htea)4] (1d); [Fe4Ln2(O2CCMe3)6(N3)4(Htea)4]·2(CH2Cl2), Ln = Dy (2a), Er (2b); [Fe4Ln2(O2CCMe3)4(N3)6(Htea)4]·2(EtOH)·2(CH2Cl2), Ln = Dy (3a), Er (3b) and the {Fe18M6}-type compounds [Fe18M6(O2CCHMe2)12(Htea)18(tea)6(N3)6]·n(solvent), M = Dy (4, 4a), Gd (5), Tb (6), Ho (7), Sm (8), Eu (9), and Y (10) form in ca. 20-40% yields in direct reaction of trinuclear FeIII pivalate or isobutyrate clusters, lanthanide/yttrium nitrates, and bridging triethanolamine (H3tea) and azide ligands in different solvents: EtOH for the smaller {Fe4Ln2} wheels and MeOH/MeCN or MeOH/EtOH for the larger {Fe18M6} wheels. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that 1-3 consist of planar centrosymmetric hexanuclear clusters built from FeIII and LnIII ions linked by an array of bridging carboxylate, azide, and aminopolyalcoholato-based ligands into a cyclic structure with a cavity, and with distinct sets of crystal solvents (2 EtOH per formula unit in 1a-c, 2 CH2Cl2 in 2, and 2 EtOH and 2 CH2Cl2 in 3). In 4-10, the largest 3d/4f wheels currently known, nearly linear Fe3 fragments are joined via mononuclear Ln/Y units by a set of isobutyrates and amino alcohol ligands into virtually planar rings. The magnetic properties of 1-10 reveal slow magnetization relaxation for {Fe4Tb2} (1d) and slow relaxation for {Fe4Ho2} (1c), {Fe18Dy6} (4), and {Fe18Tb6} (6).

Tetranuclear {CoII2CoIII2}, Octanuclear {CoII4CoIII4}, and Hexanuclear {CoIII3DyIII3} Pivalate Clusters: Synthesis, Magnetic Characterization, and Theoretical Modeling.

New tetranuclear and octanuclear mixed-valent cobalt(II/III) pivalate clusters, namely, [NaCo4(O2CCMe3)6(HO2CCMe3)2(teaH)2(N3)]·2H2O (in two polymorphic modifications, 1 and 1a) and [Co8(O2CCMe3)10(teaH)4(N3)](Me3CCO2)·MeCN·H2O (2) have been synthesized by ultrasonic treatment of a dinuclear cobalt(II) pivalate precursor with sodium azide and triethanolamine (teaH3) ligand in acetonitrile. The use of Dy(NO3)3·6H2O in a similar reaction led to the precipitation of a tetranuclear [NaCo4(O2CCMe3)4(teaH)2(N3)(NO3)2(H2O)2]·H2O (3) cluster and a heterometallic hexanuclear [Co3Dy3(OH)4(O2CCMe3)6(teaH)3(H2O)3](NO3)2·H2O (4) cluster. Single-crystal X-ray analysis showed that 1 (1a) and 3 consist of a tetranuclear pivalate/teaH3 mixed-ligand cluster [CoII2CoIII2(O2CCMe3)4(teaH)2(N3)]+ decorated with sodium pivalates [Na(O2CCMe3)2(HO2CCMe3)2]- (1 or 1a) or sodium nitrates [Na(NO3)2]- (3) to form a square-pyramidal assembly. In 2, the cationic [Co8(O2CCMe3)10(teaH)4(N3)]+ cluster comprises a mixed-valent {CoII4CoIII4} core encapsulated by an azide, 4 teaH2- alcoholamine ligands, and 10 bridging pivalates. Remarkably, in this core, the µ4-N3- ligand joins all four CoII atoms. The heterometallic hexanuclear compound 4 consists of a cationic [CoIII3DyIII3(OH)4(O2CCMe3)6(teaH)3(H2O)3]2+ cluster, two NO3- anions, and a crystallization water molecule. The arrangement of metal atoms in 4 can be approximated as the assembly of a smaller equilateral triangle defined by three Dy sites with a Dy···Dy distance of 3.9 Å and a larger triangle formed by Co sites [Co···Co, 6.1-6.2 Å]. The interpretation of the magnetic properties of clusters 2-4 was performed in the framework of theoretical models, taking into account the structural peculiarities of clusters and their energy spectra. The behavior of clusters 2 and 3 containing CoII ions with orbitally nondegenerate ground states is determined by the zero-field splitting of these states and Heisenberg exchange interaction between the ions. To get a good understanding of the observed magnetic behavior of cluster 4, we take into consideration the crystal fields acting on the DyIII ions, the ferromagnetic coupling of neighboring DyIII ions, and the intercluster antiferromagnetic exchange. For all examined clusters, the developed models describe well the observed temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility and the field dependence of magnetization. The computational results apparently show that in cluster 4 two DyIII ions with similar nearest surroundings demonstrate single-molecule-magnet (SMM) behavior, while the strong rhombicity of the ligand surrounding hinders the SMM behavior of the third DyIII ion.

Avoiding magnetochemical overparametrization, exemplified by one-dimensional chains of hexanuclear iron(III) pivalate clusters.

One-dimensional chain coordination polymers based on hexanuclear iron(III) pivalate building blocks and 1,4-dioxane (diox) or 4,4'-bipyridine (4,4'-bpy) bridging ligands, [Fe6O2(O2CH2)(O2CCMe3)12(diox)]n (1) and [Fe6O2(O2CH2)(O2CCMe3)12(4,4'-bpy)]n (2), showcase the utility of the angular overlap model, implemented in the program wxJFinder, in the predictive identification of the relative role of intra- and intercluster coupling.

Cluster-based networks: 1D and 2D coordination polymers based on {MnFe2(µ3-O)}-type clusters.

A straightforward approach to heterometallic Mn-Fe cluster-based coordination polymers is presented. By employing a mixed-valent µ(3)-oxo trinuclear manganese(II/III) pivalate cluster, isolated as [Mn(II)Mn(III)(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(3)]·(solvent) (hmta = hexamethylenetetramine; solvent = n-propanol (1), toluene (2)) in the reaction with a µ(3)-oxo trinuclear iron(III) pivalate cluster compound, [Fe(3)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(H(2)O)(3)]O(2)CCMe(3)·2Me(3)CCO(2)H, three new heterometallic {Mn(II)Fe(III)(2)} cluster-based coordination polymers were obtained: the one-dimensional polymer chain compounds {[MnFe(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(2)]·0.5MeCN}(n) (3) and {[MnFe(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(2)]·Me(3)CCO(2)H·(n-hexane)}(n) (4) and the two-dimensional layer compound {[MnFe(2)O(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(hmta)(1.5)]·(toluene)}(n) (5). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a µ(3)-oxo trinuclear pivalate cluster building block as the main constituent in all polymer compounds. Different M:hmta ratios in 1-5 are related to the different structural functions of the N-containing ligand. In clusters 1 and 2, three hmta ligands are monodentate, whereas in chains 3 and 4 two hmta ligands act as bridging ligands and one is a monodentate ligand; in 5, all hmta molecules act as bidentate bridges. Magnetic studies indicate dominant antiferromagnetic interactions between the metal centers in both homometallic {Mn(3)}-type clusters 1 and 2 and heterometallic {MnFe(2)}-type coordination polymers 3-5. Modeling of the magnetic susceptibility data to a isotropic model Hamiltonian yields least-squares fits for the following parameters: J(1)(Mn(II)-Mn(III)) = -6.6 cm(-1) and J(2)(Mn(III)-Mn(III)) = -5.4 cm(-1) for 1; J(1) = -5.5 cm(-1) and J(2)(Mn(III)-Mn(III)) = -3.9 cm(-1) for 2; J(1)(Mn(II)-Fe(III)) = -17.1 cm(-1) and J(2)(Fe(III)-Fe(III)) = -43.7 cm(-1) for 3; J(1) = -23.8 cm(-1) and J(2) = -53.4 cm(-1) for 4; J(1) = -13.3 cm(-1) and J(2) = -35.4 cm(-1) for 5. Intercluster coupling plays a significant role in all compounds 1-5.

FeII/III and MnII complexes based on 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-triazine: synthesis, structures, magnetic and biological properties.

Reaction of the polypyridyl ligand 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine (tpt) with mono- and polynuclear Fe(iii) or Mn(ii) precursors, specifically tri- or hexanuclear Fe(iii) pivalates (piv-), [Mn6O2(piv)10(Hpiv)4] and Mn(ii) isobutyrate (ib-), in various solvents and under various reaction conditions showcase the ligand's surprising coordination characteristics. The reactions result in mononuclear [FeIII(tpt)(tptH)][FeIIICl4]4·2(thf)·0.23(H2O) (1), [FeIII(piv)(tpt)Cl2] (2), [FeII(tpt)Cl2]·2(H2O) (3a), dinuclear [FeIII 2O(tpt)2Cl4] (3), and heptanuclear [FeIII 7O4(piv)12(tpt-O)]·A [A = MeCN (4a) or 4(dioxane) (4b)] and [FeIII 7O4(piv)11(tpt-O)(i-PrO)(i-PrOH)]·0.75(i-PrOH) (5), as well as the mononuclear compounds [MnII(tpt)(NO3)(H2O)2](NO3) (6) and [MnII(tpt)(ib)(Cl)(MeOH)]·MeOH (7). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses identify tpt as a tridentate NNN donor ligand that forms two five-membered metallocycles in 1-3, 6 and 7, whereas in 4 and 5 five tpt N atoms form coordinative bonds accompanied by an unusual metal-induced oxidation of one of the carbon atoms of the central triazine core. Magnetic properties of Fe(iii)-tpt (2-5), Fe(ii)-tpt (3a), and Mn(ii)-tpt (7) compounds show dominant antiferromagnetic coupling for polynuclear coordination cluster compounds. The Mn(ii)-tpt complexes 6 and 7 exhibit efficient catalytic properties in the production of enzymes by microorganisms, which concerns the synthesis of exocellular proteases in Fusarium gibbosum CNMN FD 12 or Trichoderma koningii Oudemans CNMN FD 15 fungi strains. Thus, compounds 6 and 7 can be used for producing proteolytic enzymes with wide applications including in the food, detergents and pharmaceutical industries.

An octanuclear iron(III) isobutyrate wheel.

The reaction of the µ(3)-oxido-centred trinuclear isobutyrate cluster [Fe(3)O(O(2)CCHMe(2))(6)(H(2)O)(3)](+) with an excess of phenol (PhOH) in chloroform produces a novel octanuclear Fe(III) cluster, cyclo-tetra-µ(2)-hydroxido-dodeca-µ(2)-isobutyrato-κ(24)O:O'-octa-µ(2)-phenolato-κ(16)O:O'-octairon(III) phenol hexasolvate monohydrate, [Fe(8)(C(4)H(7)O(2))(12)(C(6)H(5)O)(8)(OH)(4)]·6C(6)H(5)OH·H(2)O. The neutral cluster is located about a centre of inversion and consists of a planar ring of eight Fe(III) centres with two types of bridges between adjacent Fe atoms: each Fe atom is bridged to one of its neighbours by a µ-hydroxide and two 1,3-bridging carboxylates, or by two phenolate and one 1,3-bridging isobutyrate ligand. The cavity within the {Fe(8)} wheel is occupied by a disordered water molecule. Intermolecular O-H···O hydrogen bonds and C-H···π interactions connect the clusters and the phenol solvent molecules to form a three-dimensional network.

One-dimensional coordination polymers from hexanuclear manganese carboxylate clusters featuring a {Mn(II)4Mn(III)2(mu4-O)2} core and spacer linkers.

The bridging of hexanuclear mixed-valent carboxylate coordination clusters of the type [Mn(6)O(2)(O(2)CR)(10)] (R = CMe(3); CHMe(2)) featuring a {Mn(II)(4)Mn(III)(2)(mu(4)-O)(2)} core by geometrically rigid as well as flexible spacer ligands such as pyrazine (pyz), nicotinamide (na), or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe) results exclusively in one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymers. The formation of {[Mn(6)O(2)(O(2)CCMe(3))(10)(Me(3)CCO(2)H)(EtOH)(na)] x EtOH x H(2)O}(n) (1), {[Mn(6)O(2)(O(2)CCHMe(2))(10)(pyz)(3)] x H(2)O}(n) (2), and {[Mn(6)O(2)(O(2)CCHMe(2))(10)(Me(2)CHCO(2)H)(EtOH)(bpe)] x Me(2)CHCO(2)H}(n) (3) illustrates a surprising preference of the interlinked {Mn(6)} units toward 1D coordination chains. In the solid-state, the observed chain propagation axes are either colinear (1 and 3) or perpendicular (2), whereby crystal packing is further influenced by solvent molecules. Magnetic properties of these network compounds can be rationalized based on that the magnetism of discrete [Mn(6)O(2)(O(2)CR)(10)]-type coordination clusters with all-antiferromagnetic intramolecular exchange and weak antiferromagnetic intercluster coupling in 1, 2, and 3 follows the expected exchange coupling strength of the employed spacer linkers.

One-dimensional manganese coordination polymers composed of polynuclear cluster blocks and polypyridyl linkers: structures and properties.

The synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of five new manganese compounds are reported. These include a linear trinuclear cluster [Mn(II)(3)(O(2)CCHMe(2))(6)(dpa)(2)].2MeCN (1) (dpa = 2,2'-dipyridylamine), a tetranuclear cluster [Mn(II)(2)Mn(III)(2)O(2)(O(2)CCMe(3))(6)(bpy)(2)] (3) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine), and chain coordination polymers composed of cluster blocks such as Mn(3), Mn(3)O, and Mn(4)O(2) bridged by 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpm) or hexamethylentetramine (hmta) ligands to give ([Mn(II)(3)(O(2)CCHMe(2))(6)(bpm)].2EtOH)(n) (2), [Mn(II)(2)Mn(III)(2)O(2)(O(2)CCHMe(2))(6)(bpm)(EtOH)(4)](n) (4), and (([Mn(II)Mn(III)(2)O(O(2)CCHMe(2))(6)(hmta)(2)].EtOH)(n) (5). The magnetic analysis of the compounds was achieved using a combination of vector coupling and full-matrix diagonalization methods. Susceptibility data for compound 1 was fitted using a vector coupling model to give g = 2.02(1) and 2J/k(B) = -5.38(2) K. To model the trimer chain, we used vector coupling for initial values of J(1) and then diagonalization techniques to estimate J(2) to give g = 1.98(1), 2J(1)/k(B) = -3.3(1) K and 2J(2)/k(B) = -1.0(1) K by approximating the system to a dimer of trimers. The analysis of 3 was made difficult by the mixture of polymorphs and the difficulties of a three-J model, while for 4 an analysis was not possible because of the size of the computation and the relative magnitudes of the three couplings. Compound 5 was modeled using the same techniques as 2 to give g = 1.99(1), 2J(1)/k(B) = +32.5(2) K, 2J(2)/k(B) = -16.8(1) K, and 2J(3)/k(B) = +0.4(1) K. The combination of techniques has worked well for compounds 2 and 5 and thus opens up a method of modeling complex chains.

Iron(III) carboxylate/aminoalcohol coordination clusters with propeller-shaped Fe8 cores: approaching reasonable exchange energies.

A series of new octanuclear propeller-like aminoalcohol-supported Fe(III) oxocarboxylate coordination clusters, [Fe8O3(O2CCHMe2)9(tea)(teaH)3]·MeCN·2(H2O) (1), [Fe8O3(O2CCHMe2)6(N3)3(tea)(teaH)3] (2), [Fe8O3(O2CCMe3)6(N3)3(tea)(teaH)3]·0.5(EtOH) (3), and [Fe8O3(O2CCHMe2)6(N3)3(mdea)3(MeO)3] (4) (where teaH3 = triethanolamine; mdeaH2 = N-methyldiethanolamine) has been isolated and magnetochemically analyzed combining the programs wxJFinder and CONDON in an approach to avoid overparameterization issues that are common to larger spin polytopes. Dominant antiferromagnetic exchange interactions exist in all clusters along the edges of the propellers, while moderate ferromagnetic interactions are found along the propeller axes in their {Fe8O3} metallic cores.

Undecametallic and hexadecametallic ferric oxo-hydroxo/ethoxo pivalate clusters.

Synthesis strategies for highly condensed {Fe11} and {Fe16} pivalate clusters have been developed based on archetypal geometrically frustrated triangular {Fe3(µ3-O)} motifs that are interlinked via oxo, hydroxo, ethoxo, and carboxylate groups.

A one-dimensional coordination polymer based on Cu3-oximato metallacrowns bridged by benzene-1,4-dicarboxylato ligands: structure and magnetic properties.

A one-dimensional linear coordination polymer {[Cu3(µ3-OH)(2-pyao)3(bdc)]·6(H2O)}n () composed of trinuclear [Cu3(µ3-OH)(2-pyao)3](2+) metallacrown cores bridged by bis-carboxylato linkers has been obtained by treatment of copper(ii) fluoride with pyridine-2-aldoxime (2-pyaoH) ligand and benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (H2bdc). Magnetic susceptibility measurements show strong antiferromagnetic interactions between Cu(ii) centers within the trinuclear metallacrown core with J = -430 cm(-1).

{Fe6O2}-Based Assembly of a Tetradecanuclear Iron Nanocluster.

The tetradecanuclear FeIII pivalate nanocluster [Fe14O10(OH)4(Piv)18], comprising a new type of metal oxide framework, has been solvothermally synthesized from a hexanuclear iron pivalate precursor in dichlormethane/acetonitrile solution. Magnetic measurements indicate the presence of very strong antiferromagnetic interactions in the cluster core.

Heterometal expansion of oxozirconium carboxylate clusters.

Although representing a 'thermodynamic sink', the octahedral oxozirconium {Zr(6)O(4)(OH)(4)} cluster structure can be magnetically functionalized by up to six 3d metal cations with a combination of flexible aminoalkoxide and carboxylate ligands.

Cyanide-bridged Os(II)/Ln(III) coordination networks containing [Os(phen)(CN)4]2- as an energy donor: structural and photophysical properties.

Slow evaporation of aqueous solutions containing mixtures of Na 2[Os(phen)(CN) 4], Ln(III) salts (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Er, Yb), and (in some cases) an additional ligand such as 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpym) afforded crystalline coordination networks in which the [Os(phen)(CN) 4] (2-) anions are coordinated to Ln(III) cations via Os-CN-Ln cyanide bridges. The additional diimine ligands, if present, also coordinate to the Ln(III) centers. Several types of structure have been identified by X-ray crystallographic studies. Photophysical studies showed that the characteristic emission of the [Os(phen)(CN) 4] (2-) chromophore, which occurs at approximately 680 nm in this type of coordination environment with a triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer ( (3)MLCT) energy content of approximately 16 000 cm (-1), is quenched by energy transfer to those Ln(III) centers (Pr, Nd, Er, Yb) that have low-lying f-f states capable of accepting energy from the Os(II)-based (3)MLCT state. Time-resolved studies on the residual (partially quenched) Os(II)-based luminescence allowed the rates of Os(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer to be evaluated. The measured rates varied substantially, having values of >5 x 10 (8), approximately 1 x 10 (8), and 2.5 x 10 (7) s (-1) for Ln = Nd, Er or Yb, and Pr, respectively. These differing rates of Os(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer can be rationalized on the basis of the availability of f-f states of the different Ln(III) centers that are capable of acting as energy acceptors. In general, the rates of Os(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer are an order of magnitude faster than the rates of Ru(II) --> Ln(III) energy transfer in a previously described series of [Ru(bipy)(CN) 4] (2-)/Ln(III) networks. This is ascribed principally to the lower energy of the Os(II)-based (3)MLCT state, which provides better spectroscopic overlap with the low-lying f-f states of the Ln(III) ions.

[Os(bipy)(CN)4]2- and its relatives as components of polynuclear assemblies: structural and photophysical properties.

A series of diimine-tetracyanoosmate anions [Os(diimine)(CN)4]2- [diimine=2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 2,2'-bipyrimidine (bpym), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and 4,4'-tBu2-2,2'-bipyridine (tBu2bpy)] were prepared and isolated as their Na+ salts (water soluble) or PPN+ salts (soluble in organic solvents). Several examples were crystallographically characterized; the Na+ salts form a range of 1D, 2D, or 3D infinite coordination polymers via coordination of the cyanide groups to Na+ cations in either an end-on or a side-on manner. The [Os(diimine)(CN)4]2- anions are solvatochromic, showing three MLCT absorptions, which are considerably blue-shifted in water compared to organic solvents, in the same way as is well-known for the analogous [Ru(diimine)(CN)4]2- anions. Luminescence in the red region of the spectrum is very weak but (following the expected solvatochromic behavior) is higher energy and more intense in water. However, by exploiting the effect of metallochromism (ref 4), the emission from [Os(tBu2bpy)(CN)4]2- in MeCN can be very substantially boosted in energy, intensity, and lifetime in the presence of Lewis-acidic metal cations (Na+, Ba2+, Zn2+), which, in a relatively noncompetitive solvent, coordinate to the cyanide groups of [Os(tBu2bpy)(CN)4]2-. This has an effect similar in principle to hydrogen bonding of the cyanides to delta+ protons of water, but very much stronger, such that in the presence of Zn2+ ions in MeCN the 1MLCT and 3MLCT absorptions are blue-shifted by ca. 7000 cm(-1), and the luminescence moves from 970 nm (vanishingly weak) to 610 nm with a lifetime of 120 ns (dominant component). Thus, the binding of metal cations to the cyanides provides a mechanism to incorporate [Os(diimine)(CN)4]2- complexes into polynuclear assemblies and simultaneously increases their 3MLCT energy and lifetime to an extent that makes them comparable to much-stronger luminophores such as Ru(II)-polypyridines.

Three-component coordination networks based on [Ru(phen)(CN)4(2-) anions, near-infrared luminescent lanthanide(III) cations, and ancillary oligopyridine ligands: structures and photophysical properties.

A series of cyanide-bridged coordination networks has been prepared which contain [Ru(phen)(CN)4](2-) anions, Ln(III) cations, and additional oligopyridine ligands (1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2':6',2'''-terpyridine or 2,2'-bipyrimidine) which coordinate to the Ln(III) centres. Five structural types have been identified and examples of each type of structure are described: these are hexanuclear Ru4Ln2 clusters; two-dimensional Ru-Ln sheets with a honeycomb pattern of edge-linked Ru6Ln6 hexagons; one-dimensional chains consisting of two parallel cross-linked strands in a ladder-like arrangement; simple single-stranded chains of alternating Ru/Ln components; and a one-dimensional 'chain of squares' in which Ru2Ln2 squares are linked by bipyrimidine bridging ligands which connect to the Ln(III) corners of adjacent squares in the sequence. The 3MLCT luminescence characteristic of the [Ru(phen)(CN)4](2-) units is quenched in those networks containing Ln(III) which have low-lying near-infrared luminescent f-f states [Pr(III), Nd(III), Er(III), Yb(III)], with sensitised Ln(III)-based near-IR luminescence generated by d --> f energy-transfer. The rate of d --> f energy-transfer, and hence the degree of quenching of the 3MLCT luminescence from the [Ru(phen)(CN)4](2-) units, depends on the availability of f-f levels of an appropriate energy on the Ln(III) centre, with Nd(III) (with a high density of low-lying f-f states) being the most effective energy-acceptor and Yb(III) (with a single low-lying f-f state) being the least effective. Rates of d --> f energy-transfer to different Ln(III) centres could be determined from both the residual (partially quenched) lifetimes of the 3MLCT luminescence, and--in the case of the Yb(III) networks--by a rise-time for the sensitised near-IR luminescence. The presence of the 'blocking' polypyridyl ligands, which reduced the number of cyanide and water ligands that would otherwise coordinate to the Ln(III) centres, resulted in increases in the Ln(III)-based emission lifetimes compared to networks where these blocking ligands were not used.