Jingxiang Lin

Development of a polyoxometallate-based photocatalyst assembled with cucurbit 6 uril via hydrogen bonds for azo dyes degradation

A water insoluble cucurbit[6]uril-polyoxometallates (CB[6]-POMs) composite assembled from α-Keggin type polysilicontungstate anions and macrocycle cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) via hydrogen bonding has been synthesized as visible light active photocatalyst. The physical and photocatalytic properties of such photocatalyst have been fully characterized by PXRD, FTIR, TG, XPS, and UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The catalyst shows a good photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation and displays good reproducibility of photocatalytic degradation by a simple recycled procedure without obvious loss in catalytic activity, which is of great significance for practical use of the photocatalyst. In the photodegradation process, the {Ni-CB[6]}(n) chain of the photocatalyst acts as sensitizer and can be induced by visible light, meanwhile the POMs chain of the photocatalyst acts as electron acceptor and deposits the electron in its LUMO. The effects of various experimental parameters and the proposed mechanisms are discussed in detail.

New types of hybrid solids of tetravanadate polyanions and cucurbituril

Three inorganic-organic hybrid solids based on tetravanadate polyanions, {V(4)O(12)}(4-) and cucurbituril, Me(10)Q[5] and Q[5], namely (NH(4))(4)[(V(4)O(12))·(Me(10)Q[5]@0.5H(2)O)(2)]·∼13H(2)O (1), Li(4)(H(2)O)(5)[(V(4)O(12))·(Me(10)Q[5]@H(2)O)(2)]·∼20H(2)O (2), and Na(4)(H(2)O)(2)[(V(4)O(12))·(Q[5])(2)]·∼15H(2)O (3), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. In the structure of compound 1, two {Me(10)Q[5]@0.5H(2)O} moieties connect to one {V(4)O(12)}(4-) cluster through an NH(4)(+) counter-cation to form a trimer unit, which further forms a three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular architecture via extensive hydrogen bonds (H-bonds). Compound 2 contains a one-dimensional (1D) covalently bonded chain structure built by alternate {Me(10)Q[5]@H(2)O} moieties and {Li(2)O(4)(H(2)O)(3)}(2+) dimer units. The anionic {V(4)O(12)}(4-) units bond to every another {Li(2)O(4)(H(2)O)(3)}(2+) dimer unit sitting on the chain through multi-uncoordinated water molecules via H-bonds. Compound 3 is built from {V(4)O(12)}(4-) clusters, Q[5], and sodium cations into a two-dimensional (2D) covalent wavy structure, showing interesting connection between the building units, which is packed into 2D through plentiful H-bonds. It has been found that the cations dramatically affect the coordination of the tetravanadate polyanion and cucurbituril.

Iodine uptake and enhanced electrical conductivity in a porous coordination polymer based on cucurbit[6]uril

A porous coordination polymer [(Na2I2CB[6])·8H2O]n (complex 1; CB[6] = cucurbit[6]uril), which absorbs gaseous iodine molecules and forms a polyiodide containing material I2@1, has been prepared and used as an absorbent for iodine uptake. The formation of halogen bonds between discrete iodide ions and iodine molecules has been demonstrated as predominant driving forces for iodine adsorption. Moreover, complex 1 demonstrates enhanced electrical conductivity upon iodine uptake, thanks to the formation of the polyiodide structure. This observation indicates that the discrete iodide matrix in the crystal lattice is an ideal and preferential molecular dock for iodine accommodation. Introduction to the international collaboration The collaboration between the Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter (FJIRSM) Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the University of Nottingham (UoN) has been initiated through an International Exchange Scheme (2011 China Costshare project) cofunded by the National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Royal Society (RS). A following research grant from the RS and Sino-British Fellowship Trust (SBFT) has been offered to further consolidate the collaborative research between the two parties (2012 and 2013). More recently, the active and fruitful collaboration of FJIRSM (CAS) and UoN has been rewarded by a successful Key International Collaboration Scheme from NSFC (2014–2018). This contribution dedicated to “Sino-European” collaboration themed collection has been a snapshot of the collaborative research projects based on crystalline porous molecular materials and their applications in molecular storage & separation and beyond.

Monodispersed Ag nanoparticles as catalyst: preparation based on crystalline supramolecular hybrid of decamethylcucurbit[5]uril and silver ions.

Monodispersed silver nanoparticles (Ag(0) NPs) have been first prepared on the basis of a postsynthesis via mild reduction from a new crystalline supramolecular hybrid solid assembled from Ag(+) ions and decamethylcucurbit[5]uril (Me10CB[5]). Uniform growth of nearly spherical Ag(0) NPs with an average size of ca. 4.4 nm was observed on the organic Me10CB[5] support to form Ag@Me10CB[5] composite material. The as-synthesized composite material was characterized by a range of physical measurements (PXRD, TGA, XPS, ICP, TEM, etc.) and was further exploited as a heterogeneous catalyst for the reduction of various nitrophenols in the presence of NaBH4. The kinetics of the reduction process was monitored under various experimental conditions. The Ag@Me10CB[5] composite material showed excellent catalytic performance over the reduction reactions and remained active after several consecutive cycles.

Crystalline Hybrid Solid Materials of Palladium and Decamethylcucurbit[5]uril as Recoverable Precatalysts for Heck Cross‐Coupling Reactions

A series of MPdMe10 CB[5] (M=Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs; Me10 CB[5]=decamethylcucurbit[5]uril) hybrid solid materials have been successfully synthesized for the first time through a simple diffusion method. These as-prepared hybrid solids have been applied as phosphine-free precatalysts for Heck cross-coupling reactions with excellent catalytic performance and good recyclability. In the processes of the catalytic reactions, the activated Pd(II) species were released from the crystalline hybrid precatalysts and transformed into catalytically active Pd nanoparticles, which have been demonstrated as key to carry on the catalytic reactions for the recoverable precatalysts MPdMe10 CB[5] (M=K, Rb, and Cs). It has also been rationalized that the introduction of different alkali metals afforded crystalline hybrid precatalysts with different crystal structures, which are responsible for their diversified stability and reusability presented in Heck reactions.