Catalina Ruiz-Pérez

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of the flexible self-assembled two-dimensional square network complex [Cu2(mal)2(H2O)2(4,4′-bpy)] (H2mal=malonic acid and 4,4′-bpy=4,4′-bipyridine)

Abstract The copper(II) complex [Cu 2 (mal) 2 (H 2 O) 2 (4,4′-bpy)] ( 1 ) (H 2 mal=malonic acid and 4,4′-bpy=4,4′-bipyridine) has been prepared and its structure determined by single crystal X-diffraction methods. Compound 1 has a two-dimensional square grid network structure. The square grids are stacked parallel but in a staggered manner on each other along the c -axis, with an interlayer separation of 3.850(1) A. Each layer contains a large cavity of 15.784(1)×15.784(1) A with each edge shared by one malonate group and one 4,4′-bpy ligand and a small planar square of 4.644(1)×4.644(1) A with Cu(II) ions and malonate groups at each corner and side, respectively. Each copper atom is in a distorted square-pyramidal surrounding with three carboxylate-oxygen atoms from two malonate groups and one nitrogen atom from a 4,4′-bpy ligand building the equatorial plane and a water molecule in the axial position. Each 4,4′-bpy molecule exhibits the bis-monodentate bridging mode whereas the malonate simultaneously adopts the bidentate (at one copper atom) and monodentate (at the adjacent copper atom) coordination modes. The bridging carboxylato exhibits the anti – syn coordination mode. The magnetic properties of 1 have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9–300 K and they correspond to a dominant ferromagnetic coupling through bridging malonato within the small square defined by four copper(II) ions ( J =+12.4(1) cm −1 ) and much weaker intrasheet antiferromagnetic coupling between copper(II) ions through bridging 4,4′-bpy ( j eff =−0.052(1) cm −1 ).

Structural versatility of the malonate ligand as a tool for crystal engineering in the design of molecular magnets

The synthesis of ferro- and ferri-magnetic systems with a tunable Tc and three-dimensional (3-D) ordering from molecular precursors implying transition metal ions is one of the active branches of molecular inorganic chemistry. The nature of the interactions between the transition metal ions (or transition metal ions and radicals) is not so easy to grasp by synthetic chemists working in this field since it may be either electrostatic (orbital) or magnetic (mainly dipolar). Therefore, the systems fulfilling the necessary requirements to present the expected magnetic properties are not so easy to design on paper and realize in the beaker. In this work we show how the design of one-, two- and three-dimensional materials can strongly benefit from the use of crystal engineering techniques, which can give rise to structures of different shapes, and how these differences can give rise to different properties. We will focus on the networks constructed by assembling malonate ligands and metal centres. The idea of using malonate (dianion of propanedioic acid, H2mal) is that it can give rise to different coordination modes with the metal ions it binds. Extended magnetic networks of dimensionalities one (1-D), two (2-D) and three (3-D) can be chemically constructed from malonate-bridged metallic complexes. These coordination polymers behave as ferro-, ferri- or canted antiferro-magnets. We are currently trying to obtain analogous compounds using magnetically anisotropic ions, such as cobalt(II), in order to explore how structural differences influence the magnetic properties. In this case the control of the spatial arrangement of the magnetic building blocks is of paramount importance in determining the strength of the magnetic interaction. The possibility of controlling the shape of the networks depends on the coordination bond between the metal ion and the ligands and on supramolecular interactions such as stacking interactions or hydrogen bonding.

Malonate-based copper(II) coordination compounds: ferromagnetic coupling controlled by dicarboxylates

Studies on structural and magnetic properties of polynuclear transition metal complexes, aimed at understanding the structural and chemical factors governing electronic exchange coupling mediated by multiatom bridging ligands, are of continuing interest to design new molecular materials exhibiting unusual magnetic, optical and electrical properties, bound to their molecular nature. Looking at potentially flexible bridging ligands, the malonate group seems a suitable candidate. The occurrence of two carboxylate groups in the 1,3 positions allows this ligand to adopt simultaneously chelating bidentate and different carboxylato bridging modes (syn–syn, anti–anti and syn–anti trough one or two carboxylate groups) In the course of our research we have structurally and magnetically characterized several carboxylato bridged copper(II) complexes. In the present study we start describing briefly the structure and the magnetic behaviour of the compounds, subsequently we analyze the magneto-structural correlations concluding that the parameter that governs, in first order, the magnetic interaction between metal centres is the relative position of the carboxylato bridge of the malonate respect to the copper(II) ions: equatorial–equatorial (strong interaction), equatorial–apical (weak interaction) and apical–apical (negligible interaction). Inside this division another parameters become important such as β (angle between copper(II) basal planes) in the equatorial–equatorial, or the distortion t in the equatorial–apical.

Highly Selective Chemical Sensing in a Luminescent Nanoporous Magnet

Among the wide variety of properties of interest that a given material can exhibit, luminescence is attracting an increasing attention due to its potential application in optical devices for lighting equipment and optical storage, [ 1a − c] optical switching, [ 1d ,e] and sensing. [ 1f − i ] At this respect, many scientists, working in the multidisciplinary fi eld of the materials science, have directed their efforts to the obtention of luminescent materials with potential sensing applications. For instance, sensitive and selective detection of gas and vapor phase analytes can result specially interesting because of the variety of applications that can be found in many different fi elds. A key principle concerning the luminescent chemosensors [ 2 ] is that they must be able to detect differences between small molecules, [ 2 , 3 ] and sequentially implement a recognition– transduction protocol. [ 2b ] In this sense, the remarkable shape selectivity of a class of highly porous materials, the so-called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [ 4 ] which have already shown applications in different fi elds (gas storage and separation, molecular recognition and catalysis, molecular electronics and spintronics, molecular photonics, etc) [ 4–6 ] has converted them in excellent candidates for the fabrication of chemical sensors. [ 2 , 3 ] The key point responsible for the high potential success of MOFs as chemo-sensors is the exceptional tunability of their structures and properties.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of two-dimensional malonato-bridged cobalt(II) and nickel(II) compounds

Two isostructural malonato-bridged complexes of formula {[M(H2O)2][M(mal)2(H2O)2]}n [M = Co(II) (1), Ni(II) (2); H2mal = malonic acid] have been synthesised and characterized by X-ray diffraction. Their structure consists of corrugated layers of trans-diaquabismalonatemetalate(II) and trans-diaquametal(II) units bridged by carboxylate–malonate groups in the anti–syn conformation. Two crystallographycally independent metal atoms occur in 1 and 2. The malonate anion acts simultaneously as a bidentate and bis-monodentate ligand. Variable-temperature (1.9–295 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate the occurrence of weak antiferro- (1) and ferromagnetic (2) interactions between the cobalt(II) (1) and nickel(II) ions (2) through the anti–syn caboxylate–malonate bridge. A brief discussion on the structural diversity and crystal engineering possibilities of the malonate complexes with divalent first-row transition metal ions other than copper(II) is carried out.

Crystal engineering of 3-D coordination polymers by pillaring ferromagnetic copper(II)-methylmalonate layers

Three new copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(Memal)(H2O)]n (1), [Cu2(pyz)(Memal)2] (2) and [Cu2(4,4′-bpy)(Memal)2(H2O)2] (3) (Memal = methylmalonate, pyz = pyrazine and 4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine) were obtained and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is a square grid of aquacopper(II) units which are linked by carboxylate-methylmalonate groups in the anti–syn (equatorial–equatorial) coordination mode. The crystal structures of 2 and 3 consist of corrugated layers of copper(II) (2) and aquacopper(II) (3) units with intralayer carboxylate-methylmalonate bridges in the anti–syn (equatorial–apical) coordination mode which are linked through pyrazine (2) and 4,4′-bipyridine (3) ligands; to build up a 3-D network. Magnetic susceptibility measurements of complexes 1–3 in the temperature range 2–300 K show the occurrence of an overall ferromagnetic behaviour with a weak intralayer ferromagnetic coupling (J = +1.61(1) cm−1) in 1 whereas two opposite magnetic interactions occur in 2 and 3, one ferromagnetic through the anti–syn carboxylate (2 and 3) and the other antiferromagnetic through pyz (2) and 4,4′-bpy) (3).

Ferromagnetic coupling in the malonato-bridged copper(II) chains [Cu(Im)2(mal)]n and [Cu(2-MeIm)2(mal)]n(H2mal = malonic acid, Im = imidazole and 2-MeIm = 2-methylimidazole)

Two new malonato-bridged copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(Im)2(mal)]n (1) and [Cu(2-MeIm)2(mal)]n (2) (Im=imidazole, 2-MeIm=2-methylimidazole and mal=malonate dianion) have been prepared and their structures solved by X-ray diffraction methods. The [Cu(Im)2(mal)] and [Cu(2-MeIm)2(mal)] neutral entities act as monodentate ligands towards the adjacent copper(II) units through one of the two carboxylate groups, the OCO bridge exhibiting an anti-anti conformation. The environment of each copper atom in 1 and 2 is distorted square pyramidal: two carboxylate oxygen atoms from a bidentate malonate and two nitrogen atoms from two imidazole (1) or 2-methylimidazole (2) ligands form the equatorial plane whereas the apical position is occupied by a carboxylate oxygen from the malonate group of the neighbouring complex unit. The intrachain copper-copper separation is 6.036(2) (1) and 6.099(2) A (2). The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9–290 K. Overall, ferromagnetic behaviour is observed in both cases and the intrachain magnetic coupling (J) between the copper(II) ions through the carboxylato group is found to be 1.64 (1) and 0.39 cm−1 (2) (the Hamiltonian being H=−JΣiSi·Si+1).

Malonic acid: a multi-modal bridging ligand for new architectures and properties on molecule-based magnets

Abstract In this work, we show how the design of one-, two- and three-dimensional materials can strongly benefit from the use of crystal engineering techniques, which can give rise to structures of different shapes, and how these differences can give rise to different properties. We will focus on the networks constructed by assembling malonate ligands and metal centres. The idea of using malonate (dianion of propanedioic acid, H 2 mal) is that they can give rise to different coordination modes with the metal ions bind. Extended magnetic networks of dimensionalities 1 (1D), 2 (2D) and 3 (3D) can be chemically constructed from malonato-bridged metallic complexes. These coordination polymers behave as ferro-, ferri- or canted antiferromagnets. The control of the spatial arrangement of the magnetic building blocks is of paramount importance in determining the strength of the magnetic interaction. It depends on the coordination bond between the metal ion and the ligands, and on supramolecular interactions such as stacking interactions or hydrogen bonds.

Crystal structure and magnetic properties of two isomeric three-dimensional pyromellitate-containing cobalt(II) complexes.

The hydrothermal preparation, crystal structure determination, and magnetic study of two isomers made up of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylate and high-spin Co(II) ions of formula [Co2(bta)(H2O)4]n x 2n H2O (1 and 2; H4bta = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid) are reported. 1 and 2 are three-dimensional compounds whose structures can be described as (4,4) rectangular layers of trans-diaquacobalt(II) units with the bta(4-) anion acting as tetrakis-monodentate ligand through the four carboxylate groups, which are further connected through other trans-[Co(H2O)2](2+) (1) and planar [Co(H2O)4](2+) (2) entities, with the bridging units being a carboxylate group in either the anti-syn (1) or syn-syn (2) conformations and a water molecule (2). The study of the magnetic properties of 1 and 2 in the temperature range 1.9-300 K shows the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the high-spin Co(II) ions, with the strong decrease of chi(M)T upon cooling being mainly due to the depopulation of the higher energy Kramers doublets of the six-coordinated Co(II) ions. The computed values of the exchange coupling between the Co(II) ions across anti-syn carboxylate (1) and syn-syn carboxylate/water (2) bridges are J = -0.060 (1) and -1.90 (2) cm(-1) (with the Hamiltonian being defined as H = -Jsigma(i,j)S(i) x S(j)). These values follow the different conformations of the carboxylate bridge in 1 (anti-syn) and 2 (syn-syn) with the occurrence of a double bridge in 2 (water/carboxylate).

The metal-organic framework HKUST-1 as efficient sorbent in a vortex-assisted dispersive micro solid-phase extraction of parabens from environmental waters, cosmetic creams, and human urine.

Three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), specifically HKUST-1, MOF-5, and MIL-53(Al), have been synthetized, characterized, studied and compared in a vortex-assisted dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction (VA-D-µ-SPE) procedure in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD) for determining seven parabens in environmental waters (tap water, swimming pool water, and water coming from a spa pool), human urine (from two volunteers), and cosmetic creams (two commercial brands). Experimental parameters, such as nature and amount of MOF, sample volume, nature of elution solvent and its amount, vortex and centrifugation time, among others, were properly optimized. HKUST-1 was the most adequate MOF to work with. Detection limits for the overall method down to 0.1 μgL(-1) for butylparaben (BPB) and benzylparaben (BzPB) were obtained, with determination coefficients (R(2)) higher than 0.9966 for a range of 0.5-147 μgL(-1) (depending on the paraben), average relative recoveries (RR, in %) of 80.3% at the low spiked level (7 μgL(-1)), and relative standard deviation (RSD) values below 10% also at the low spiked level. The strength of the affinity between HKUST-1 and parabens was evaluated, and it ranged from 33.5% for isopropylparaben (iPPB) to 77.0% for isobutylparaben (iBPB). When analyzing complex environmental waters, RR values of 78%, inter-day precision values (as RSD) lower than 15%, and intra-day precision values lower than 7.8% were obtained, despite the observed matrix effect. When analyzing cosmetic creams, parabens were detected, with contents ranging from 0.14 ± 0.01 μgg(-1) for EPB in the healing cream analyzed to 1.12 ± 0.07 mgg(-1) for MPB in the mask cream analyzed, with precision values (RSD) lower than 12% and RR values from 63.7% for propylparaben (PPB) to 121% for iPPB. When analyzing human urine, no parabens were detected but the method could be performed with RSD values lower than 19%. These results show the adequateness of MOFs as sorbents in VA-D-µ-SPE procedures despite sample complexity.